The V-22 Osprey is the world's first production tiltrotor aircraft. Unlike any aircraft before it, the V-22 successfully blends the vertical flight capabilities of helicopters with the speed, range, altitude, and endurance of fixed-wing transports. This unique combination provides an unprecedented advantage to warfighters, allowing current missions to be executed more effectively, and new missions to be accomplished that were previously unachievable on legacy platforms. Comprehensively tested and in full rate production, the V-22 provides strategic agility, operational reach, and tactical flexibility - all in one survivable, transformational platform. The V-22 Osprey Program is charged by the Department of Defense (DoD) with developing, testing, evaluating, procuring and fielding a tiltrotor Vertical/Short Takeoff and Landing (V/STOL) aircraft for Joint Service application with the Navy being the lead. The V-22 program is designed to provide an aircraft to meet the amphibious/vertical assault needs of the United States Marine Corps (USMC), the strike rescue needs of the Navy, and the special operations needs of the United States Special Operations Command (USSOCOM). The MV-22B variant is replacing the CH-46E. The CV-22 variant provides a new capability and will augment the MC-130 in the USAF/USSOCOM inventory for special operations infiltration, exfiltration, and resupply missions. The V-22's tiltrotor technology is revolutionizing military air transport in a manner not seen since the introduction of helicopters more than 50 years ago.
Contents: Executive Summary * Marine Corps Vision and Strategy 2025 * V-22: From Concept, To Development, To Reality * Tactical, Operational, and Strategic Reach * Mission Snapshots * Operation Enduring Freedom, Afghanistan, MV-22B * Amphibious Operations: Marine Expeditionary Unit, MV-22B * Operation Odyssey Dawn, Libya, MV-22B * Operation Unified Response, Haiti, MV-22B * Operation Iraqi Freedom, MV-22B * CASEVAC, Saving Lives, MV-22B * Personnel Recovery Mission, CV-22 * Operation Enduring Freedom, CV-22 * Operation Iraqi Freedom, CV-22 * Humanitarian Relief, SOUTHCOM, CV-22 * Exercise Flintlock, CV-22 * CV-22 Responds, Rescue Request * Misconceptions and Statements of Fact * General Characteristics * Design Features. * Multiservice Configurations * MV-22B U.S. Marine Corps * CV-22 U.S. Special Operations Command * Top Tier Suppliers * Propulsion System * Structural Features * Cockpit Avionics * Payload Systems * Personnel Insertion/Extraction * Performance Charts * Restricted Visibility Landings * Appendix 1: Survivability * Appendix 2: Shipboard Compatibility * Appendix 3: USMC Medium Lift Transition * Appendix 4: Studies and Analyses * Appendix 5: Current and Future Capabilities
