COD order
On 26 February 2021, the Bell-Boeing Joint Project Office in Amarillo (TX) received a modification contract worth USD 309,5 million for the production and delivery of four CMV-22B Carrier Onboard Delivery (COD) Ospreys destined for the US Navy.
The tiltrotors are ordered in the Fiscal Year 2021 budget and are expected to be completed in March 2025.
Looking back to the CMV-22B orders of the US Navy: on 31 March 2016, Bell Boeing JPO received its first Naval Air Systems Command order (USD 151 million) for non-recurring engineering services associated with the development of the COD-variant of the well-known Osprey. That FY16 budget was used to add capabilities to the standard MV-22B, like extending its range and the construction of a high frequency beyond line-of-sight radio and a public address system. The development work was completed by September 2020.
On 29 June 2018, an acquisition order was placed for 39 CMV-22Bs. The budget for these 39 aircraft (believed some USD 2,9 billion) are part of the FY17 and 18 budget and are expected to be completed by November 2024. That 29 June order also contained tiltrotors for the US Marine Corps (34), US Air Force (1) and Japan (4).
On 28 December 2018, a modification order was placed for the production and delivery of three CMV-22Bs worth 366,8 million. This trio of FY19 should be completed in October 2023. This order was followed by a modification order (USD 170,4 million, FY21) on 9 December 2020 that contained the production and delivery of one CMV-22B and exercised the option for V-22 Common Configuration Readiness and Modernization (CC-RAM) Lot 4 requirements. That sole tiltrotor is expected to be completed in September 2024.
So with the latest contract, of the 39 CMV-22Bs ordered, eight are actually purchased so far.
The first operational deployment of the CMV-22B is expected this year and will take place on the USS Carl Vinson (CVN-70). Fleet Logistics Multi-Mission Squadron (VRM) 30 Titans, based at NAS North Island (CA) will take that honour. It is expected that a COD-detachment of two, possible three, CMV-22Bs will join the Carrier Air Wing TWO ('NE-xxx').
The tiltrotors will also be assigned to the US Navy Fleet Replacement Squadron (FRS) VRM-50 SunHawks at North Island (CA) for training.
Photo by Dan Sijovich (kindly provided by AirHistory.net)