Grounding of U.S. Military’s V-22 Osprey Fleet Enters Third Month

Progress in Investigation and Return to Service Plans

The United States has pledged to consult with Japan before resuming Osprey flights, which were suspended after a fatal crash last year. Japanese Defense Minister Minoru Kihara announced in January 2024 that U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has instructed American forces not to operate Ospreys in Japan without prior coordination with the Japanese government.

As of February 2024, the Pentagon said it has made progress in identifying a potential mechanical failure that led to the fatal crash in Japan. A U.S. defense official informed The Associated Press that the Joint Safety Council, in collaboration with the Air Force, Navy, and Marine Corps, is working on plans to return the Osprey fleet to service.

The official, speaking on condition of anonymity with The Associated Press, stated that the discovery of the mechanical failure has opened discussions on implementing mitigation to allow the aircraft's safe return to flight. However, the specific nature of the failure has not been disclosed, and the investigation is ongoing.

Each service will determine when it returns its own fleets to the skies. In aviation, they’ve done this before, but probably not on this broad scale with a platform like we have in the V-22 Osprey. That could include getting service-wide input on how many simulator hours are needed to get a crew back to proficiency, with what type of flying, and what maintenance is needed on each Osprey before they return to the air again. Flight safety is dependent on pilots maintaining currency on an aircraft — meaning that they are flying regularly enough to be proficient in all types of flying, such as night missions, close formation flying, or refueling. After 60 days of being grounded, that will be one of the key issues the services must prepare for as the Ospreys return to flight. They also must make sure the aircraft are ready. Both the Air Force and Marine Corps have been running the Osprey’s engines; the Marines have been conducting ground movements to keep the aircraft working.

Marine Corps leadership is also reportedly working on a message to send throughout the service that could give each unit up to 30 days to re-certify crews and ensure they are ready to return to flight.

Lt. Gen. Tony Bauernfeind, head of Air Force Special Operations Command, stated at the Air Warfare Symposium on February 13 that the Air Force remains uncertain about when CV-22 Osprey flights might resume. He said the investigation into the November 29 crash is ongoing, along with a comprehensive review of Osprey force training and equipment.

Bauernfeind, engaging in weekly discussions with sister services, emphasized that flights will only resume with full confidence in training, crews, and platform safety measures. He highlighted the need for essential information before implementing appropriate risk mitigations.

Osprey Exports and Potential Operators

Japan accepted its first V-22 in July 2020, marking a five-year period from the initial deal. It has stopped flying all of its 14 Ospreys after the 2023 accident. The country plans to operate a fleet of 17 V-22s, making it the first non-U.S. customer for this advanced tiltrotor aircraft. Notably, the Japanese variant features a unique configuration equipped with a specialized communication system.

In 2015, the Indian Aviation Research Centre expressed interest in acquiring four V-22s for diverse roles, including personnel evacuation, logistics, and the deployment of the Special Frontier Force in challenging border conditions. Additionally, the Indian Navy contemplated the V-22 as a potential replacement for the Kamov Ka-31 in airborne early warning and control. Furthermore, India is reportedly considering the procurement of six attack version V-22s to facilitate swift troop insertion in border regions.

On July 6, 2020, the U.S. State Department granted approval for a Foreign Military Sale to Indonesia, encompassing eight Block C MV-22s and associated equipment. The estimated cost of this significant deal amounts to $2 billion (~$2.24 billion in 2022).

An agreement signed on April 22, 2013, committed to selling six V-22s to the Israeli Air Force. However, by the close of 2016, Israel had not finalized the purchase and was exploring alternative options like the C-47 Chinook or the CH-53K. In 2017, Israel temporarily halted the V-22 evaluation, citing perceived limitations in executing certain missions compared to its existing Sikorsky CH-53 transport helicopters.