Bell Boeing Completes First Nacelle Improvements Modification on CV-22 Osprey

Bell Boeing has completed the first Nacelle Improvements Modification on an Air Force CV-22 Osprey.

The aircraft is part of an ongoing upgrade by Bell and Boeing to improve the wiring components within the nacelles and to change the structure in order to improve maintainability. The Osprey returned to the 20th Special Operations Squadron at Cannon Air Force Base on Dec. 13, 2021.

The V-22 nacelles house critical power components to the V-22’s vertical take-off and landing capabilities and transition to forward flight. This program benefits the V-22 fleet maintainers and operators by reducing maintenance time and costs while simultaneously enhancing flying readiness rates.

Bell completed the modifications at the Amarillo Assembly Center (AAC), which actively produces new V-22s for the Department of Defense. The AAC employs more than 500 employees to manufacture new and modify existing military aircraft. Completing nacelle improvements at the AAC utilizes Bell artisans with the most experience removing and replacing nacelles.

"The incorporated nacelle improvements help ensure the Osprey continues to outpace adversaries both operationally and sustainably,” said Kurt Fuller, V-22 program director and Bell vice president.

The V-22 Osprey regularly performs missions that would typically require both fixed-wing and rotary-wing, reducing the overall logistics and maintenance footprint for operations. The CV-22 is a special operation variant of the Osprey that regularly operates in high-demand environments, including long-range infiltration and exfiltration missions. The Marine Corps and Navy have also cited interest in nacelle improvements for the MV-22 and CMV-22B variants.

Bell Boeing completed the first aircraft in December 2021 and is underway with the second CV-22.