US Marine Corps takes delivery of final MV-22B Osprey, completing 359-aircraft procurement

The Marine Corps has taken delivery of the last of 359 MV-22B Ospreys procured over the past two decades, officials announced on Tuesday.

The Aircraft's Role and Capabilities

The tiltrotor MV-22B Osprey is the primary aircraft used to transport Marines to and from Navy ships, remote bases, and battlefields. Its unique rotating engines enable long-range flight like an airplane while also allowing hovering and vertical takeoffs and landings, similar to a helicopter. The Marines began operational use of the aircraft in 2007, and the MV-22B subsequently replaced the Corps' CH-46 Sea Knight helicopters.

Cost and Service Distribution

Military Ospreys typically cost between $75 million and $90 million per aircraft. The Air Force operates approximately 50 Ospreys in its special operations fleet, and the Navy maintains a handful for full-time ship-to-shore ferry duty. Within the Marine Corps, however, the MV-22B serves as the "backbone" of the aviation component of the Marine Corps Air-Ground Task Force (MAGTF), the primary formation in which Marines fight.

Transformational Impact

Lt. Gen. William Swan, deputy commandant for aviation, spoke at a ceremony in Amarillo, Texas, marking the delivery of the final aircraft.

"Before the Osprey, distance imposed a very different decision calculus for our Marine commanders," Swan said. "The V-22 connected ships, expeditionary bases, forward positions, and distributed forces in ways previous generations could only imagine."

Swan noted that the MV-22B has given commanders new options to take the initiative and create challenges for adversaries.

"The MV-22 didn't simply replace the CH-46," Swan said. "It fundamentally changed the way the MAGTF generates combat power. For nearly 20 years, the Osprey has helped Marine Aviation respond to crises, support combat operations, conduct humanitarian assistance, and deliver Marines wherever our nation and joint force needed them to be."

Operational Statistics

According to Swan, the Osprey accounts for approximately 75% of the Corps' rotary-wing assault support capability and has logged more than 686,500 flight hours across 114 operational deployments.

Safety Concerns and Mitigation

The MV-22B has proven susceptible to a type of mechanical failure called a hard clutch engagement, which can lead to loss of control. Investigators determined that such a failure caused an MV-22B Osprey crash in June 2022 that killed five Marines. The entire Osprey fleet across all three services was temporarily grounded over the issue in 2023.

Capt. Jacob Sugg, a Marine Corps spokesman, said the Marines—who manage Osprey readiness and maintenance for all three services—have taken steps to address the issue, and no hard clutch engagements have been reported since February 2023.

As a result, MV-22B Ospreys remain restricted on flight distance based on a key component known as a Proprotor Gearbox, which transfers power from the engines to the propellers, according to Naval Air Systems Command. Restrictions vary depending on the gearbox type installed on each aircraft.

Future Outlook

With the final MV-22B delivered, the Marines will shift from fielding the aircraft to sustaining and modernizing their fleet. According to a Marine Corps news release, the Ospreys are expected to remain in service through 2055.

"We cannot assume that because the MV-22B transformed Marine aviation once, its evolution is complete," Swan said in the release. "It is our responsibility to carry this legacy forward and ensure this aircraft remains ready, relevant, and lethal for the fight ahead."

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