Discussions are underway with regard to the Marines also operating them in Afghanistan as U.S. military forces in that conflict area are increased.
For her coming forward deployment to the Middle East-Indian Ocean area the Bataan will embark the ten Ospreys of (again) VMM-263. The tilt-rotor aircraft will provide increased flexibility over the CH-46E Sea Knight and CH-53D Sea Stallion helicopters that are normally deployed in LHA/LHD amphibious ships. The Osprey provides greater range, lift capacity, and speed compared to the helicopters. And, the Osprey can be refueled in flight.
The Bataan will also embark CH-53E Super Stallion heavy-lift helicopters as well as SeaCobra gunships and Huey utility helicopters. Normally these ships also have a detachment of AV-8B Harrier STOVL attack aircraft on board. It is not clear if the Bataan will carry those aircraft.
The Bataan’s deployment follows a highly successful deployment of four Air Force CV-22 model Ospreys to North Africa in November 2008 for a multi-national exercise. Based at Hurlburt Field, Florida, those aircraft — configured for special operations — were flown overseas with in-flight refuelings. Dubbed Operation Flintlock, the 15-nation exercise in the trans-Sahara region was conducted without any significant problems with the Osprey.
The CV-22s — from the Air Force’s 8th Special Operations Squadron — flew the 6,000-plus statute miles from Florida to Mali with several stops and with in-flight refuelings from Air Force MC-130 Hercules aircraft.
(Ironically, in 2007 several Air Force CV-22s conducted operations from the Bataan.)
Meanwhile, procurement of the Ospreys is continuing. The current Marine procurement goal is 458 MV-22 aircraft and the Air Force is acquiring 50 CV-22s for special operations (replacing the MH-53J Pave Low helicopter). Interestingly, the V-22 prefixes are erroneous as, according to Department of Defense guidance, the “M” should indicate multipurpose — and is suitable for the Air Force special operations mission — while the “C” prefix indicates cargo/transport, more suitable for the Marine’s Osprey missions.
Read the rest of Norman’s story at Military.com’s Warfighters Forum…
[EDITOR’S NOTE: I spoke with a Marine Lt. Col. yesterday at a conference on Afghanistan in Washington who brought up an interesting point I hadn’t thought of regarding the Osprey’s gun. He’s a 53 pilot and mentioned that the BAE Systems “Remote Guardian” gun that’s to be retrofitted to the Osprey doesn’t have the ability to engage targets while on the ground. I discussed with him the Corps’ contention that landing in hot LZs is an anachronism and he argued back that while Corps planners always try to avoid that situation, sometimes you’ve gotta go in with guns blazing.
That brings up the whole escort problem. Cobras can’t keep up with the Osprey if it’s truly taking advantage of its speed capabilities, so that injects a whole nother complexity into combat planners’ task. I suppose you could use another Remote Guardian-equipped Osprey orbiting the LZ to cover the one dropping off or picking up pax. I’ll be interested to see how SOCOM develops TTPs for the Osprey gun.]
– Christian
Regarding escorts…
I guess HTML markup doesnt work in comments.
See link below.
http://s3.supload.com/files/default/escort-20090401085936.jpg
What is needed is an aircraft with the same range and small and manuverable enough with adequate payload capacity to escort the –22.
The XV-15 has neither the range or payload capacity, though it fits the other requirements. The Bell/Agusta 609 is too big for this mission. Studies with more/different armaments on V-22’s?
One way or another, we’re going to end up with a purpose built/purchased escort platform for the V-22.
“the Corps’ contention that landing in hot LZs is an anachronism“
Operation Anaconda’s been forgotten already?
esmoore5,
I think Anaconda is the whole point…that proved to be quite a cluster and I think the Corps wants to avoid such tactics like the plague…
“the Corps’ contention that landing in hot LZs is an anachronism“
In an Osprey it’s not just an anachronism it’s suicide.
Here’s your Osprey escort:
http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2009/02/01/321730/boeing-considers-restarting-ov-10-production-after-23-year.html
Replace the 4 M60C 7.63 guns in the sponsons with 2 M296 .50 caliber machine guns with the rate of fire selected upwards to 850/1000 rpm.
I don’t understand all the concern about “escorts”. Ever heard of a ToT (Time on Target)? Cobras/Harriers/F-18s can be timed to arrive on target in time to cover the LZ during the landing. The Osprey lands as a helo, so the Cobras can keep up during the assault.
As for Anaconda, the CH-47 has 3 guns (2 waist, 1 ramp)and still got shot down. I’d say flying a CH-47 or UH-60 (Blackhawk Down) into a hot LZ is suicidal too.
The problem with launching your escorts early is you may lose the element of surprise. Fixed-wing air also has limited time on station to provide support during a landing. An F-18 also flies too high and too fast to provide close support during a helo insert.
What’s needed is a firepower capability that can arrive at the target area a minutes ahead of the Ospreys and then loiter over the LZ/PZ long enough to cover the Ospreys as they leave. This capability should also be able to loiter to prosecute on-call CAS missions for the ground force. The capability should be able to travel with or near the Ospreys as they transit so that they can quickly provide cover for any ships that go down for mechanical issues in bad guy country.
A-10s can do this today. Harriers can do this, too. OV-10s could if we still had them or they go back into production, and could do it cheaper than the other currently available options.
Hey Yall,
Soonergrunt, I think somthing like the bronco is a great idea especialy in coin and such operations. Although i think what there realy looking for is a vtol aircraft. But maybe someone needs to look at the old flying pancake idea it was able to go slow as hell and fast as hell think around 500 or so mph.
But i can see something like the A-1 Skyraider also if they dont want vtol.
Um ps. anyone know if the airforce is changing there current # of spookies or cutting it or what?
Valcan,
I haven’t seen anything to indicate that the USAF are retiring any AC-130s.
According to Wikipedia (quoting the USAF), currently there are eight AC-130H Spectre II and seventeen AC-130U Spooky II aircraft in active duty service.
Also according to Wikipedia, the USAF is intent on procuring 16 AC-27J Stinger II aircraft based upon the new C-27J Spartan Joint Cargo Aircraft, but these are at least a couple of years away.
Nice.…though i just hope they dont suddenly decide to say wait a minute.…..LETS MAKE IT STEALTHY!!!
and price goes up.
But thanks the AC130 and A10 are some of the most cost effective weapons we have plus they accually work
Anyone know if this issue was resolved?
“Fifth V-22 with loose bolts points to design“
26/03/09
Flightglobal.com
US Naval Air Systems Command confirms today that a fifth MV-22 — and the first US-based aircraft
If there is a need for escorts that fly with the rest of the ospreys, an escort version of the Osprey can be developed, with weapons replacing cargo/troops. Pretty simple. The Osprey can lift a lot of weight, so you can make a gunship version for ground suppression easily. Just remodel the belly, lift it to make room for a larger, more powerful turret, and fill it up with ammo. Then slap on some electronics for targeting. You can probably get a bushmaster 25mm or 30mm on there with tons of ammo.
Defense against air and SAMs is going to be handled by fixed wing aircraft, like always.
A gunship like the AC types of the Hercy bird and earlier cargo types the Airforce has used should be easy enough to do on an Osprey. Spooky flying around can suppress almost anything, so a gunship like that would be a perfect solution. Not to mention it would free up Cobras for other tasks, and provide an added versatility to the embarked air group. Also, it would be infinitely more effective than any little turret.
The X2 gunship escort would be purpose built for this exact role.
Also, IIRC the gun limitations are due to the fact that the gun cannot physically fit in deployed position between the belly of the airframe and the ground, and must be retracted when landing.
Here is an idea a little out of the box.
The Osprey can lift a lot of weight.
How about a gun “box” attachment that can be hooked to the bottom of the craft. It would reel itself in once attached and secure itself to the craft once activated remotely (wirelessly) from a control suit in the craft.
Think pods that attach to fighter craft. Without the connection wires.
The pod would be attached on the ground and reeled in once off the ground.
This would allow for a great deal of flexibility of munitions to be attached, without altering the aircraft itself in any real way. The system could be completely self contained with its own redundant electrical and hydraulic systems.