U.S. Navy awards USD 590 million contract to Bell and Boeing for CMV-22B Osprey aircraft

The CMV-22B offers vertical takeoff and landing alongside the range and speed of a turboprop, allowing for quick movement of personnel and high-priority cargo to aircraft carriers. This capability is especially valuable in contested maritime environments, where traditional runways may not be accessible.

Work on the contract will be carried out at multiple sites across the United States, including Fort Worth, Amarillo, and Red Oak in Texas; Ridley Park, Pennsylvania; East Aurora, New York; Park City, Utah; and McKinney, Texas. Additional tasks are also scheduled both within the U.S. and overseas.

At the time of the award, USD 132.1 million from the Navy’s fiscal year 2024 aircraft procurement budget has been obligated. The Naval Air Systems Command, headquartered at Patuxent River, Maryland, will oversee the contract.

The CMV-22B will eventually replace the ageing C-2A Greyhound, which has been in service since the 1960s. The CMV-22B provides the Navy with significant flexibility and enhanced operational capability.

The aircraft first deployed operationally with Carrier Air Wing 2 in 2021 and is expected to become central to the Carrier Onboard Delivery (COD) mission. Its duties include transporting F-35 power modules and other mission-critical equipment across the fleet.