Boeing and Bell Unveil Upgrades for Air Force CV-22 Nacelles

The inaugural Air Force CV-22 Osprey assigned for nacelle enhancement modifications arrived at Bell’s Amarillo Assembly Center on September 21. This aircraft is a component of an ongoing initiative by Bell Textron Inc., a subsidiary of Textron Inc., along with Boeing (collectively known as “Bell Boeing”) to further elevate the Osprey’s dependability and maintainability for the Department of Defense (DOD).

In December 2020, Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) entrusted Bell Boeing with an $81 million contract to finalize Nacelle Enhancements on the CV-22 fleet. This contract encompasses the completion of unique elements, production of nine kits, and the installation of one kit. NAVAIR has a potential extension to cover manufacturing and installation through 2025.

“We collaborated closely with our DOD counterparts, including service members who maintain these revolutionary aircraft, in crafting the focused enhancements within the nacelle to boost readiness rates while lowering sustainment expenses,” stated Kurt Fuller, V-22 program director and Bell vice president. “Bell Boeing engineers devised innovative solutions to cater to fleet demands and improve the maintainability of the V-22 utilizing direct customer input.”

Roughly 60 percent of maintenance personnel time is allocated to tasks in the nacelles. Bell Boeing successfully designed over 1,300 new V-22 part numbers to enhance the reliability and maintainability of the nacelles while also minimizing repair duration. These enhancements are anticipated to elevate aircraft availability and curtail maintenance time.

“Tiltrotors have perpetually introduced a new dimension of capability to aviation,” remarked Shane Openshaw, V-22 deputy director and Boeing vice president. “No other aircraft can achieve the unmatched reach, speed, and agility of the V-22, and these advancements help ensure the Osprey remains a prepared and competent aircraft for the DOD for many years ahead.”

Bell Boeing closely collaborates with the U.S. Air Force Special Operations Command and other V-22 clients to pursue upgrades, diminish maintenance, and enhance reliability.

NAVAIR accomplished the inaugural flight with nacelle enhancements on a Marine Corps MV-22 test aircraft on April 23, 2021. The MV-22 maintains the same nacelle architecture as the CV-22 and allowed the Bell Boeing team to gather insights from NAVAIR and fleet maintainers prior to the initial Air Force aircraft commencing modifications. Bell Boeing will execute the CV modifications in Amarillo, Texas, and Fort Worth, Texas, expecting to finalize the enhancements on all CV-22 aircraft by 2025.