Bell has completed the first nacelle improvements modification on a US Air Force CV-22B Osprey, part of an ongoing upgrade in co-ordination with Boeing to improve wiring within the nacelles and adapt its structure to improve maintainability.
The CV-22 Osprey returned to the 20th Special Operations Squadron at Cannon Air Force Base on December 13, 2021, according to a January 26 release from Boeing. The V-22 nacelles house critical power components to the V-22’s vertical take-off and landing capabilities and transition to forward flight.
Bell completed the modifications at the Amarillo Assembly Center (AAC), which produces new V-22s for the US Department of Defense.
The CV-22 is a special operation variant of the V-22 Osprey that regularly operates in high-demand environments, including long-range infiltration and exfiltration missions. The US Marine Corps and US Navy have also cited interest in nacelle improvements for the MV-22B and CMV-22B variants.
Bell Boeing completed the first aircraft in December 2021 and is underway with the second CV-22B platform.
