The V-22 Joint Program Office (PMA-275) held a change of command ceremony April 29 where Col. Brian Taylor relieved Col. Matthew Kelly as the program manager.
Maj. Gen. Greg Masiello, program executive officer for Air Anti-Submarine Warfare, Assault & Special Mission Programs, presided over the ceremony.
The V-22 Osprey surpassed the 600,000 flight hour milestone in February, a count beginning with first flight in 1989.
The milestone is attributed to the Air Force Special Operations Forces, Marine Corps and Navy squadrons flying and maintaining an inventory of more than 400 aircraft in fleet operations, training and flight test around the world.
The “Titans” of Fleet Logistics Multi-Mission Squadron (VRM) 30 and members of Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 2 successfully delivered an F-35C power module aboard USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) in the U. S. Navy’s first, at-sea replenishment for this component.
This success follows a November 2020 milestone, during which VRM-30, CVW-2 and Vinson conducted the Navy’s first landings, take-offs, and refueling of a Navy CMV-22B Osprey from an aircraft carrier.
The Naval Air Systems Command awarded Bell Boeing an $81 million contract to develop, design and install nacelle modification kits and install conversion area harnesses on the CV-22 Osprey, the Air Force Special Operations Command’s (AFSOC) variant of the tiltrotor aircraft.
Japanese Self-Defense Forces began V-22 flight operations at Kisarazu Air Field Nov.6, marking the first international partner to fly the U.S. military aircraft.
“The JGSDF [Japan Ground Self Defense Force] is taking a big step toward integrating the V-22’s unique capabilities into its mission,” said Col. Matthew Kelly, program manager for the V-22 Joint Program Office (PMA-275). “Beginning with Japan’s selection of the V-22 in 2015, it has been an honor working with our international ally and partner to make this program a reality.”
The first international variant of the V-22 Osprey aircraft flew from Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni to the Kisarazu Air Field July 10, where the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force (JGSDF) will now operate, train with, and maintain the aircraft.
Since 2016, pilots, crew chiefs and maintainers with the JGSDF have been training with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Training Squadron (VMMT) 204 and Navy Aviation Technical Training Unit at MCAS New River.
The Air Force Special Operations Command received its 53rd CV-22 Osprey June 2, marking the 400th delivery of a V-22 in the history of the joint program.
The first Navy CMV-22B Osprey arrived at Patuxent River Feb. 2 after completing its ferry flight from Bell’s Amarillo Assembly Center in Texas.
This is the first of two CMV-22B aircraft assigned to Air Test and Evaluation Squadron (HX) 21, the squadron leading the developmental test efforts for the program.
