WHAT DOES THE FUTURE HOLD FOR THE V-22 OSPREY?
Sometimes a reputation precedes a person, place, thing, experience, or what have you. Such is the case with the V-22 Osprey, an aircraft that is no doubt iconic, though its claim to history continues to be up for debate. Sure, the Bell Boeing V-22 Osprey is responsible for transporting staff for the White House and is known to be used in a variety of military operations, but that doesn’t mean it’s always made the news for the best reasons. High-profile crashes have marred its reputation, even if a bit unfairly. Now, it appears that replacements are on the horizon, especially if the actions of the U.S. military are pointing in the direction they appear to be. Related: Military Plane Crashes Causing Concerns Among Branches https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=el5z7kKJKfA
Possible Reasons Why the V-22 Osprey Is Unsafe
The U.S. Army recently announced its decision to replace the UH-60 Black Hawk with Bell's tilt-rotor V-280 Valor. Following this announcement, questions were raised about the safety of the V-280 Valor due to the reputation of its predecessor, the V-22 Osprey, for being an unsafe platform. Although the V-22 program has experienced a number of high-profile incidents leading to the loss of service members since the early 1990s, the Osprey helicopter has proven to be a safe and reliable platform. Despite 51 service members losing their lives in V-22 Osprey crashes, it's important to acknowledge that fatalities are a tragic reality in military aviation, regardless of the aircraft. Between 2013 and December 2020, more than 6,000 separate DoD aviation accidents resulted in the deaths of 224 service members, the destruction of 186 aircraft, and around $10 billion worth of damage. Therefore, saying definitively that V-22 Ospreys are unsafe, or at least far more unsafe than alternatives, can be a bit tricky when presented with the facts. Crashes are a tragic, but realistic part of serving, and a reminder that sacrifice comes in many shapes and forms for our nation’s troops.
An Uncertain Legacy Setting the Stage for an Uncertain Future
Documents detailing the budgets of the three military branches that operate the V-22 Osprey tilt-rotor aircraft show no plans for purchasing additional airframes. This detail indicates that the Pentagon is forgoing an expansion of the fleet and will opt for other options moving forward. Suggested Read: The F-22 Raptor Cost Is Putting the Plane’s Production in Jeopardy The Navy, Marine Corps, and Air Force have all seemingly developed a lack of interest at the same time as recent news sparks more concerns about the V-22 Osprey's gearbox issues. These problems have caused several incidents throughout the aircraft's lifetime, which has cost the U.S. military time and money for repairs and maintenance. The development of the Osprey was lengthy and controversial, in part due to significant cost overruns, some of which were caused by the requirement to fold wings and rotors to fit on ships. The initial development budget was $2.5 billion in 1986, which increased to a projected $30 billion in 1988. By 2008, $27 billion had been spent and another $27.2 billion was needed for planned production. From 2008 to 2011, the estimated lifetime cost of the V-22 increased by 61%, mostly due to maintenance and support. Repairing the aircraft could be another option, but likely not a welcome one, considering one attempt in 2017 took a team of six, 45 days, working 12-hour days to repair the aircraft with a price tag north of $5 million. There was interest in keeping the fleet of V-22s through the 2050s, but technology can be fickle. As it grows stronger and faster, the rate at which it improves also accelerates. Now, the U.S. military continues to look forward as intriguing future technology could be around the corner. At the same time, many military experts are also looking for a shift in the need for aircraft for modern and future engagements. In other words, the V-22 Osprey may not be the aircraft necessary for conflicts that may arise from rising tensions between China and Russia.
How Many V-22 Ospreys Have Crashed?
51 service members have died in Osprey crashes since its inception, although other sources report much lower numbers (around 21). Either way, the aircraft has had its reputation marred by varying crashes and operational issues that have put service members at risk. Regardless of the figure and nature of the crashes, its reputation continues to be a dark cloud over the V-22 Osprey. Read Next: The Legendary Chicken Gun Is the Ultimate Quality Control Test for Military Planes