The V-22 Osprey program office is studying future aircraft upgrades, including the potential to extend the fuselage for up to several decades past the current service life limit that runs into the early 2060s.
During the Modern Day Marine conference last week, V-22 joint program office manager Col. Brian Taylor said the office is looking at both a V-22 Cockpit Technology Replacement (VeCToR) upgrade to start research and development in 2026 and field from 2032 to 2042 as well as a full Renewed V-22 Aircraft Modernization program (ReVAMP).
The initial VeCToR upgrade looks to add more off-the-shelf technology to the cockpit, like screens, keyboard, computers and radars not designed in the 1980s, for example.
ReVAMP would then look at how to keep the fuselage operations for decades past the current aircraft service life in the early 2060s.
“Something we’re learning about the fuselage is that it is actually kind of life unlimited, that there’s enough margin in it. And so if we put a new wing and nacelle on there, we’re probably good for another 40 years. So that is a study that’s ongoing.”
According to Taylor’s presentation slides, ReVAMP plans to conduct research, development, test and evaluation in 2036, undergo developmental testing from 2040-2041, then perform recurring installations from 2042-2050.
The office is still reviewing what key systems need to be replaced to keep the V-22 active for additional decades, but it could cover aircraft maintenance modernization, improved drive system, improved ice protection and long-term value investments.
Taylor said they are just starting the effort now, so he solicited industry to start talking to DoD about this because the government is “asking questions and we want the ideas.”
He said V-22s will definitely be operating for the next 30 to 40 years, while ReVAMP could become the next cycle of the aircraft.
Taylor said without ReVAMP the aircraft is expected to last until about 2062 when it will start having challenges without new wing sections, since it is a 10,000-hour platform.
“That’s kind of the right lateral limit, so to speak, “and why the program office is planning any ReVAMP mid-life upgrade actions in the 2040s to “kind of refresh it for whatever is the next lifespan, 30, 40 years.”
Taylor admitted he does not know what the fuselage study will find as future V-22 uses, but it could include pilot-optional models.
“I would say that, definitely stuff that is in the conversation is ‘Alright, hey, pilot optional, so what flght control computers and what systems do we need to do that?’ I would say everything is on the table, in regards to hey, how can we employ this? But really, how can we employ it better from a reliability, maintainability and portability [perspective] – And then obviously, underlying everything is safety.”
He said they are at the “very nascent stages” of the study, so there is not yet a timeline for when a recommendation or decision will be made.
“Right now, we’re just trying to kind of define what this would look like. And then we’ll probably have several cycles with industry of ‘Hey, this is kind of what we’re thinking.’ Because I think that feedback loop from industry is really important to kind of help us with – Hey, you said you want this? Is that really what you want? Because sometimes, we don’t fully understand all the supply chain impacts. And so that back and forth is really important to kind of get that understanding on the ground,” Taylor continued.
He also admitted ReVAMP is dependent on what the state of technology will be in future decades to determine if the V-22 fuselage will remain relevant and useful or if the services want to invest elsewhere. Therefore, while the program office may determine how to extend the aircraft, the services will ultimately decide if they will invest future funds into this aircraft.
“Where is the state of technology at that point, and that’s also going to inform that decision. So I’m a little bit biased, I would love to see the V-22s stay in service for the next 100 years. But if there’s a better thing that we need to pivot to,” that’s the decision for the services.