Navy Awards Bell-Boeing CMV-22B Development Contract for COD
ARLINGTON, Va. — The Navy has given the go-ahead to Bell-Boeing to develop the next-generation carrier-on-board-delivery (COD) aircraft for the Navy’s carrier air wings.
The Naval Air Systems Command on March 31 awarded $151 million contract modification to Bell-Boeing, the joint venture that builds the V-22 Osprey tiltrotor aircraft, to develop the CMV-22B version of the Osprey for the Navy. Bell-Boeing will add some additional capabilities to the baseline Marine Corps MV-22B design to produce the CMV-22B — extended range, high-frequency beyond-line-of-sight radio and a public address system.
Work on the non-recurring engine development is expected to be completed in September 2020, according to the contract announcement.
The Navy plans to procure 44 of the aircraft to replace the 35 C-2A Greyhound COD aircraft, which were built during the 1980s. Six CMV-22Bs are planned for procurement between fiscal 2018 and 2021, with deliveries to begin in 2021.