U.S. Air Force CV-22 Nacelle Improvement by Bell Boeing

Bell-Boeing Joint Project Office was awarded an $81 million firm target contract modification order against a previously issued basic ordering agreement.

Bell-Boeing is a joint venture (JV) between The Boeing Company and Bell Helicopter, a unit of Textron Inc. The strategic alliance currently manufactures the V-22 Osprey for US Marines, USAF, Navy and Japan.

This most recent order was contracted by the Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, for Naval and U.S. Air Force Aircraft.

The versatile, self-deployable CV-22 Osprey enables Air Force Special Operations Command aircrews to execute long-range special operations missions (Photo Courtesy U.S. Air Force).

The order modification provides continued non-recurring engineering support as well as the recurring procurement of kits and installs to support the forced retrofit of the nacelles on multiple U.S. Air Force aircraft models.

Bell-Boeing, will provide engineering, production, supportability and management support necessary to facilitate the incorporation of the improved nacelles into the fleet.

This requires implementation and installation of nacelle improvements and harness conversion for the CV-22 Osprey aircraft, and forced retrofit at the depot level of maintenance for previously delivered V-22 Osprey aircraft. 

These modifications support phase two of the nacelle improvements effort.

Maintenance being conducted on a V-22 Osprey engine nacelle.

The V-22 Osprey is known for its flexibility as tilt-rotor aircraft. It is an aircraft that takes off, hovers, and lands like a helicopter yet flies long distances like a turboprop aircraft. it can also be modified according to the services' needs.

The CV-22 variant has revolutionized special operations around the globe, according to the Naval History and Heritage Command, conducting all weather clandestine missions in hostile and politically sensitive areas utilizing multimode radar and robust defensive systems.

Bell Textron delivered the first CV-22 to Air Force Special Operations Command last June.

Work on the nacelle improvements contract will be conducted in multiple locations including Amarillo, Texas, Fort Worth, Texas, and Ridley Park, Pennsylvania. Work is expected to be complete in June 2024.