V-22 Osprey Tilt-Rotor Aircraft

Publication Date: January 2002

Publisher: Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

Author(s):

Research Area: Military and defense

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Abstract:

The V-22 Osprey is a tilt-rotor aircraft that takes off and lands vertically like a helicopter and flies like a plane by tilting its wing-mounted rotors to function as propellers. Combining a helicopter's operational flexibility with the greater speed, range, and efficiency of fixed-wing aircraft, the V-22 can perform such missions as troop/cargo transport, amphibious assault, special operations, and search and rescue operations.

Begun in FY1982 by the Army and now funded in part by the Air Force, the V-22 has been primarily a Marine Corps program funded by the Navy Department. The aircraft is produced by Bell Helicopter Textron and Boeing Helicopters, with engines produced by Rolls-Royce/Allison. Flight testing and operational evaluation of pre-production V-22s began in early 1997, with procurement of production aircraft approved in April 1997.

The future of the aircraft was at issue in 1989-92, when Secretary of Defense Cheney sought to cancel the program on grounds of affordability. Congress continued to fund the program, however, and through FY2000 some $10 billion was provided for the program, which as of December 31, 1999, was estimated by the Defense Department to cost some $38.1 billion to develop and produce 458 aircraft.

For FY2000, the Administration requested some $1,100 million in Navy and Air Force procurement funds and Navy R&D funding for 10 aircraft. Congress authorized and appropriated funding for 12 MV-22s for the U.S. Marine Corps in FY2000. For FY2001, the Administration requested $1,843 million for the program, including procurement funds for 16 MV-22s and 4 Air Force CV-22s.

The Administration's FY2002 defense budget requested $3,278.3 million for the V22 program including procurement of 12 MV22s for the Marine Corps, modification of existing aircraft, and RDT&E.

Congress has supported the V-22 as a new technology with multi-service military applications as well as various civilian uses (if derivatives of this tilt-rotor aircraft are developed for civil aviation) with potential commercial and foreign sales implications. Critics of the V-22 have questioned its affordability and argued that its performance would not justify the cost of procuring this new aircraft in the quantity projected. Also, in light of several accidents, critics argue that the tilt-rotor technology is too risky, while supporters contend that risks are being adequately addressed.