US Navy Orders Five Additional Boeing CMV-22B Osprey Aircraft to Strengthen Carrier-Based Logistics Capabilities.

On March 21, 2025, the United States Department of Defense (DoD) announced the award of a $590 million fixed-price incentive contract to the Bell Boeing Joint Program Office, based in Amarillo, Texas, for the production and delivery of five additional CMV-22B Osprey aircraft for the U.S. Navy. The latest procurement reinforces the Navy’s strategic effort to modernize its Carrier Onboard Delivery (COD) fleet with advanced tiltrotor technology, enhancing operational reach and responsiveness across the globe.
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A CMV-22B Osprey from Fleet Logistics Multi-Mission Squadron (VRM) 40 "Mighty Bison" idles on the flight deck of the USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78), the world’s largest aircraft carrier, on 19 September 2024. (Picture source: U.S. DoD)

The contract outlines a production schedule with work to be performed at several key U.S. locations, including Fort Worth, Amarillo, and Red Oak in Texas; Ridley Park, Pennsylvania; East Aurora, New York; Park City, Utah; McKinney, Texas; and Endicott, New York. Additional work will be conducted at various other sites within and outside the continental United States. The project is scheduled for completion by January 2028. At the time of the award, the Department of Defense obligated $132.1 million from the Fiscal Year 2024 Navy aircraft procurement budget to initiate the work.

The CMV-22B Osprey is a critical logistics platform specifically developed to replace the aging C-2A Greyhound in the Navy’s COD mission. Based on the MV-22B airframe, the CMV-22B features a tiltrotor design that enables it to take off and land vertically like a helicopter while transitioning to turboprop flight for greater speed and range. This dual capability allows it to operate from both aircraft carriers and remote shore bases, giving the Navy exceptional tactical flexibility.

In its primary role, the CMV-22B supports long-range, medium-lift intra-theater logistics, enabling the rapid movement of personnel, mail, and time-sensitive, high-priority cargo—including jet engines and mission-critical components—from forward bases to deployed carrier strike groups. The aircraft is a vital enabler for the Joint Force Maritime Component Commander (JFMCC), particularly in high-tempo or contested environments.

Compared to the MV-22B, the CMV-22B incorporates mission-specific enhancements, including an extended operational range of up to 2,130 km (1,150 nautical miles), a beyond line-of-sight high-frequency (HF) radio for long-distance communications, improved fuel dump capability, a public address system for passenger communication, and optimized lighting for efficient cargo handling. The aircraft can transport up to 2,720 kg (6,000 pounds) of cargo or accommodate 24 passengers, making it well-suited for combat logistics support in dynamic operational conditions.

Initial Operational Capability (IOC) for the CMV-22B was achieved in December 2021, with the aircraft making its first operational deployment aboard the U.S. Navy USS Carl Vinson alongside Carrier Air Wing Two. While the original Navy Program of Record called for 48 aircraft, the current procurement plan envisions a total fleet of 44 units.

The CMV-22B marks a significant advancement in carrier logistics, replacing the traditional fixed-wing C-2A Greyhound with a platform capable of landing directly on aircraft carriers without the need for catapults or arresting gear. This increases accessibility to smaller or more austere locations and enhances operational agility, which is essential in modern naval warfare where dispersed operations and rapid sustainment are critical.

Technically, the CMV-22B is powered by two Rolls-Royce Liberty AE1107C engines, each generating approximately 4,626 kW (6,200 shaft horsepower). The aircraft measures 17.5 m in length, with a wingspan of 25.6 m and a height of 6.7 m. It supports a maximum vertical takeoff weight of 23,859 kg and a maximum rolling takeoff weight of 27,443 kg. Operated by a four-person crew—pilot, co-pilot, and two crew chiefs—the aircraft is capable of carrying 24 fully equipped troops or cargo essential to carrier air wing operations.

The latest CMV-22B order confirms the platform’s growing importance as a force multiplier in U.S. Navy operations. Its ability to deliver time-critical supplies directly to aircraft carriers and forward positions makes it an indispensable component of the Navy’s logistics architecture and a decisive asset in future maritime conflict scenarios.