The new aircraft the US Navy needs to cover its 'golden mile' just took another major step forward
US Navy/Mass Comm. Specialist 3rd Class Brooke Macchietto
The Navy said it would swap out the aging C-2A Greyhound aircraft used to resupply aircraft carriers for new CMV-22B Osprey tilt-rotor aircraft in January 2015.
As the service has gotten closer to deploying with its variant of the Joint Strike fighter, the F-35C, the need for the V-22's heavy-lifting capacity has grown more urgent. And after a round of tests in early August, the Navy is a step closer to meeting its resupply and logistics needs.
Aboard the aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush this month, Osprey pilots successfully performed rolling landings and takeoffs at a total weight of more than 57,000 pounds, outstripping the C-2A's maximum landing weight of 49,000 pounds.
The Osprey's vertical-lift capability, along with its ability to reach fixed-wing aircraft speed and range, make it ideal for carrier onboard delivery and vertical on-board delivery, the Navy says. That extra lifting capacity also provides a missing link in the Navy's plans for the F-35C.
The engine in the F-35C and the Marine Corps' variant, the F-35B (which has already deployed to an amphibious assault ship) is too heavy for platforms like the MH-60 helicopter and too big for the C-2A. Only the V-22 combines the range and lifting ability to get the engine over the final stretch between shore and ship — the "golden mile."
The Navy plans to replace its 27 C-2As with 38 CMV-22Bs beginning in 2020. Below, you can see how the latest round of testing went down.
Ospreys have long been in use by the Marine Corps, but the Navy's CMV-22B variant has some modifications to make it better suited for carrier operations.
![](https://static5.businessinsider.com/image/5b730f1ee199f327008b50f6/ospreys-have-long-been-in-use-by-the-marine-corps-but-the-navys-cmv-22b-variant-has-some-modifications-to-make-it-better-suited-for-carrier-operations.jpg)
It has more fuel capacity in the fuselage and wings, a special high-frequency antenna to aid navigation over open water, and a better intercom system to communicate with passengers.
![](https://static6.businessinsider.com/image/5b730f1e2be4ab1d008b52c8/it-has-more-fuel-capacity-in-the-fuselage-and-wings-a-special-high-frequency-antenna-to-aid-navigation-over-open-water-and-a-better-intercom-system-to-communicate-with-passengers.jpg)
Source: Navy Times
The expanded fuel capacity allows the CMV-22B to haul up to 6,000 pounds of cargo for a distance of 1,100 nautical miles, or roughly 1,265 statute miles. This beats out the Greyhound's cargo capacity of just 800 pounds and its range of 1,000 nautical miles.
![](https://static3.businessinsider.com/image/5b730f1e8905f218008b54b8/the-expanded-fuel-capacity-allows-the-cmv-22b-to-haul-up-to-6000-pounds-of-cargo-for-a-distance-of-1100-nautical-miles-or-roughly-1265-statute-miles-this-beats-out-the-greyhounds-cargo-capacity-of-just-800-pounds-and-its-range-of-1000-nautical-miles.jpg)
Source: Navy Times
See the rest of the story at Business Insider
See Also:
- 'Keep out!': China sent 6 warnings to a US Navy plane, but the US didn't back down
- Photos show the Battle of Savo Island, a brutal US Navy defeat that stranded thousands of Marines on Guadalcanal
- Small errors could create a big problem for the Navy's next ballistic missile submarine