The Wayback Machine - https://web.archive.org/web/20090210093229/http://www.opencrs.com/document/RL31384/2005-01-07

AboutCollectionsAdd a ReportContact
 

RL31384
V-22 Osprey Tilt-Rotor Aircraft
January 07, 2005

Download Locations:

University of North Texas Libraries

Summary:

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, providing $16.4 billion through FY2004. As of June 30, 2004, the Defense Department estimated the program's total cost to be about $48 billion to develop and produce 458 aircraft. The Administration's FY2002 defense budget requested $3,278.3 million for the V-22 program. This included procurement of 12 MV-22s for the Marine Corps, modification of existing aircraft, and RDT&E.; Appropriations conferees reduced the Navy procurement ($226 million and three airframes) and RDT&E.; Air Force procurement was also cut, but R&D; was increased ($180 million) to buy three EMD airframes. The Department of Defense included $1.9 billion in V-22 funding in its FY2003 budget request. The Department of Defense procured 11 MV-22 aircraft in FY2003, the minimum annual purchase required to keep the assembly lines intact. The Bush Administration's FY2004 budget requested $1.6 billion in overall V-22 funding, $1.1 billion to procure 11 aircraft (nine for the Marine Corps, 2 for the Air Force), and $543.9 million in R&D; funding. This request was matched by appropriators, with a transfer of some R&D; funding to the Special Operations Command. The Administration's FY2005 request included $1.6 billion in procurement and RDT&E; funding for the V-22. Appropriations conferees cut $38 million from the Navy's RDT&E; request, but otherwise approved all V-22 funding for FY2005. 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, and a reported cover-up, critics argue that the tilt-rotor technology is too risky, while supporters contend that risks are being adequately addressed under a revamped program. This report will be updated.

  

Available Versions:

January 02, 2009
March 13, 2007
August 04, 2005
January 07, 2005