The U.S. Navy is experimenting with three Marine Corps MV-22 Ospreys aboard the USS Carl Vinson (CVN-70) aircraft carrier to help it prepare for its own future variant of the Bell Helicopter Textron [TXT]-Boeing [BA] tilt-rotor transport aircraft.

The “fleet battle experiment,” which is taking place July 22 to Aug. 4 off the San Diego coast, will guide the Navy in determining how to use the CMV-22B, which is intended to replace the 1960s-era C-2A Greyhound carrier onboard delivery (COD) planes.

A US. Marine Corps V-22 lifting off a ship. Photo: U.S. Navy
A US. Marine Corps V-22 lifting off a ship. Photo: U.S. Navy

Cdr. Jeannie Groeneveld, a spokeswoman for U.S. Naval Air Forces, said Aug. 3 that the event has gone well so far. It has helped the Navy reduce the time the Osprey needs to be on the carrier deck to unload cargo and passengers. It also has identified the best times to schedule Osprey landings on the deck.

“Deliberate planning is required to safely and successfully integrate the CMV-22B into our future air wings,” said Vice Adm. Mike Shoemaker, commander of Naval Air Forces. “The analysis and conclusions from this experiment will inform future concept-of-operations development.”

A single MV-22B visited the Vinson in June to prepare for the experiment. The earlier event gave Marine pilots and aircrew the opportunity to familiarize themselves with operations aboard the Nimitz-class carrier.

Groeneveld said the experiment has highlighted the Osprey’s ability to operate at night. The C-2A, by contrast, is limited to daylight operations. “The Osprey is capable of logistics runs after sunset, which is a notable improvement,” she said.

The Navy plans to buy 44 CMV-22Bs, with deliveries scheduled to start in fiscal year 2020. The CMV-22B will be similar to the MV-22B but add an extended-range fuel system, a high-frequency radio and a public address system. The Marines declared the MV-22B combat-ready in 2007 and are in the midst of acquiring 360 Ospreys.

“The Osprey has a proven record in the Marine Corps, and we are looking forward to bringing its capabilities to our carrier strike groups,” Shoemaker said.