The U.S. military’s fleet of more than 400 V-22 Osprey tiltrotor aircraft is not expected to fully resume normal flight operations until at least the middle of 2025, according to Naval Air Systems Command boss Vice Adm. Carl Chebi.
The Ospreys were grounded in December following an Air Force CV-22 crash off the coast of Japan, killing all eight airmen on board. While the Ospreys are starting to return to flight with restrictions, the Navy’s CMV-22 fleet remains sidelined from its carrier support mission at sea.
The Marine Corps operates hundreds of Ospreys, while the Air Force and Navy own around 50 and 30, respectively. Investigations into recent crashes have revealed a material failure leading to fatal accidents. A redesigned clutch is expected to begin testing soon, with a new clutch anticipated to be fielded by mid-2025.
Lawmakers are pressing for more transparency about the recent crashes and readiness rates of the Ospreys, which have been affected by various issues like corrosion and parts availability. Congress members are growing impatient, with some calling for the grounding of the entire Osprey fleet until fixes are implemented to prevent further mishaps.
