Work is expected to be completed in October 2023
The U.S. Navy has given the Bell Boeing Joint Project Office a $366 million contract for three CMV-22Bs and two MV-22Bs.
Work is expected to be completed in October 2023.
Noteworthy there are three main differences in the CMV-22B compared to the Marines’ MV-22B. The Navy’s aircraft will have an extended-range fuel system, a high-frequency beyond line-of-sight radio and a public address system in the back of the aircraft.
As we have previously reported, the U.S. Navy has accelerated the sunset of the C-2 Greyhound Carrier Onboard Delivery (COD) aircraft, from 2027 to 2024.
“We have accelerated the sundown of the C-2 from 2027 to 2024. We have our first (CMV-22B) aircraft being built in Philadelphia today, going down the line. That aircraft will deliver in FY 20. We then have to do a modified [operational test] and [developmental test] and the only thing … we’re testing are the things different on the CMV-22 as compared to the MV-22. So that’s going to be a very compressed test,” Rear Adm. Scott Conn, director of air warfare on the chief of naval operations’ staff (OPNAV N98) said last October.
“We then [reach initial operational capability] and get our first three aircraft to deploy in 2021. There is no means by which I can accelerate that any further. When you look at the [military construction], the training that’s required for our sailors to operate and maintain and the aircrew that have to fly it and get the hours they need, we’re going as fast as we can go.”
Photo credit: Boeing
