"V-22 Osprey - Anybody know how its doing in Combat?" Topic

I've heard the V-22 Osprey has been deployed to Iraq, but haven't heard how well it's fared. Any links or other info would be appreciated.

Thanks

Amalric

The Marines appear to be real happy with the rapid response and carrying capacity. I don't know how it's stacking up in regards to mechanical reliability.

The Marines are not happy with it- they want to cut the program and buy some type of helicopter.

The V-22 has been intentionally kept away from known hot areas and has been relegated to primarily "behind the lines" hauling. SO the reports you see about it performing just great "in combat" are full of bovine…

They are also having a temendous problem logistically. Parts are wearing out much faster then anticipated with cannibalization occuring and current production being backlogged as parts for new birds on the assembly line are instead being sent to the theater.

I would not be surprised to see this program killed.

I haven't heard anything either.

Not sure how much they are being used.

Since they are unarmed, they are little more than fast, long-range troop transports.

I imagine they may get some use in Afganistan now, with all the action going on there.

Here is a recent article:

link

Dave

"To sum up, it has problems in hot weather, it has problems in cold weather, it has problems with sand, it has problems with high altitude, and it has restricted maneuverability".

Other than the restricted maneuverability, sounds like all other helicopters, and many aircraft to me. None like flying in those conditions.

I seem to recall similar criticisms of the M-1 Abrahms, and M-2 Bradley as well, but they have served well.

All are much too costly, but that is just military hardware for you. If you want good stuff, you pay the price.

If you are on a budget, buy Russian, or Chinese weapons, and watch them get destroyed on the battlefield.

I recall one of the reasons it was getting deployed to Iraq was because of the rash of shoot-downs of helicopters there. They said the Osprey could fly higher and faster than conventional helicopters and avoid most ground based threats.

Since it's been deployed, I haven't heard much about it. However I haven't heard of any helicopter downings since then either.

How long have they been trying to get that thing to work? Ten years at least. It's time to cut it loose.

For a aircraft ten years is not a lot of development time.

Unfortunately…

Gracias,

Glenn

More like twenty…

IMHO, spending a lot of money per-unit on these things does not guarantee a superior product. I'm reminded of my job, of all the people that buy PDA cell phones but then complain about how "hard" it is to use them, or when certain features don't work because they don't have a data plan on their account. The reason they bought them? They bought the most expensive phone because they figured it was the "best."

Damon.

Yeah, the F-14 Tomcat had issues as well, but it pulled through eventually. And it had a great career till it's recent retirement from active duty. Unfortunately now the Osprey has been under going development for more than 20 years and still just not cutting it. Shame too. I think it could really be an asset if it could just get the issues resolved. :-(

Grimm

Actually, I think they were doing testing on a similar aircraft back in the 1960's and 1970's, at least as far as the shape, and tilting rotors goes.

I remember seeing it in a National Geographic magazine, with a bunch of other Vietnam era jets too.

On the bright side, at least it isn't making the news in a bad way. No news is usually good news.

I notice that in the article, its the higher-ups that are complaining as well as the accountants. The guy managing them in the field seems to think they're an asset "cutting the battlefield in half."

I would think that this is pretty much akin to the first teething pains of any new device – aircraft, tanks and helicopters come to mind. I do think it was perhaps a little oversold. I can't imagine too many commanders willing to risk one too close to the frontline, but then the C-17 was supposedly designed for airfields right behind the frontlines as well.

Wyatt

Yes, it was in development for at least 20 years. I remember hearing about the Osprey project back in the early '80s when I was a BN S3 Air in the 101 … It is a great concept, but like all "revolutionary" weapons systems it's going to have "teething problems" … Helicopters in general require alot of maintenance. And I'm sure this tilt-rotar concept certainly presents challenges to maintenance crews … Who knows ? Maybe 30 years from now the tilt-rotar concept will be the norm …

All I have heard is the SOF community still does not want them. My son did see ten of them on Ft. Bragg about 60 days ago. Maybe a work up for deployment at the time from Camp Lejune.

VR
James Mattes

Read that article with grain of salt. Cost per aircraft includes all the development cost. The more you buy, the cheaper they get. It is not an attack aircraft. They don't want to fly helicopters into enemy fire any more than they want to fly an Osprey. It is a transport, not a gunship.

As the post above stated, one should be careful about the source of information in the article. A GAO report commissioned by Congress tends to reflect the bias of the memebers of Congress that commissioned the report and fulfill their agenda. They still serve an important function in balancing things, but you have to read them carefully.

Just about every major weapons system comes under attack for a period of time. Some genuinely fail when put to the test of combat. We can't ask the Osprey to do more than it was designed for, but with operations for the Marines ramping up in Afghanistan for the next few years we should get a good look if it will make a difference. If it saves a few lives by quickly getting critically wounded Marines to a Combat Surgical Hospital, it will demonstrate its worth.

Mark

Just more

Maybe we should buy Hinds instead.

Its a good thing we could keep this thread free of political huh ?

Oh wait..