F-35B Pocket Carriers AWACS A/C

neptune · by **neptune** » 10 Apr 2013, 17:53

http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articl ... it-384446/

Boeing developing Osprey aerial refuelling kit

By: Dave Majumdar Washington DC

Boeing is working on developing a roll-on/roll-off aerial refuelling kit for the ..V-22 Osprey because of interest expressed by the ..Marine Corps and ..Special Operations Command.

"We are already finalising our designs for what that roll-on/roll-off kit will look like," ..

The aerial refuelling kit has already been tested in a windtunnel, but Boeing intends to flight test the system onboard a government-owned V-22 during the summer of 2013, ..

But the roll-on/roll-off kit is also applicable to intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance functions, which could include an aerial surveillance radar capability, ...

The addition of an aerial refuelling capability onto the V-22 would be a significant boost to the aviation capabilities of amphibious assault ships. If adopted by the USMC, it would mean aviation units assigned to such vessels would gain an organic aerial refuelling capability, which would greatly increase their striking power.

Coupled with airborne early warning capability and the short take-off and vertical landing Lockheed Martin F-35B, it would afford vessels such as the USS Wasp capabilities that were previously only seen onboard full-size carriers like the US Navy's Nimitz-class vessels.

...little more at the jump.

spazsinbad · by **spazsinbad** » 10 Apr 2013, 18:51

And the V-22 may be coming to a CVN near youse.... CODwise....

Osprey Takes on Greyhound in Fight Over U.S. Navy’s COD Andrew Drwiega 09 Apr 2013

"The U.S. Navy’s future Carrier Onboard Delivery (COD) requirement looks like it’s breaking down into a straight fight between a modernized version of the current aircraft, Northrop Grumman’s C-2A Greyhound, and the new contender in the Bell-Boeing V-22 Osprey....

...the Bell-Boeing partnership believes that the Osprey, while suitable for the COD mission, can also add value by potentially increasing its utility in ship-to-ship resupply and load transfer. The landing on the carrier may be the last in a series of landings when delivering to a carrier battle group, suggested Richard Linhart...

...With the U.S. Marine Corps heading toward being the biggest user of the MV-22B Osprey at 360 aircraft, a requirement has already been identified by the U.S. Navy for 48 V-22s to fulfill multi-mission roles, meaning a leap to another 35 or so Ospreys would just add numbers to a new type coming into service.

Linhart also said that testing was underway for the Osprey to act as an aerial refueling platform, potentially for F-18 fighters. “The Osprey flying at 250 knots [not its maximum speed] could do the job effectively,” he said. Wind tunnel tests have been conducted over the last year on how the drogue basket would be deployed from the V-22. USMC and the U.S. Air Force currently carry out refueling the Osprey to extend its range, but the V-22 acting as a tanker would be a new mission.

Anti-submarine warfare (ASW) is another potential mission that could be offered to the Navy, pushing out the acoustic search for submarines beyond the current range of the fleet’s dedicated Sea Hawks. “The aircraft could certainly drop sonar buoys,” said Linhard, although he added that there is no current solution on offer.

The Navy does have one problem that neither aircraft can currently meet—the delivery of a Joint Strike Fighter engine from shore to ship over distance. Neither aircraft can carry the engine internally in one piece, due to the way it is packaged. The V-22 could take it as an underslung load but it would be impractical to do so over any meaningful distance. “We are working with the program people on a number of ideas,” stated Linhart.

The U.S. Navy could issue a draft Request for Proposal (RfP) as early as next year with a potential decision in 2015. Actual funding may then be expected around 2017 (given the usual provisions associated with the Department of Defense’s budgeting issues)."

http://www.aviationtoday.com/rw/militar ... 78943.html

spazsinbad · by **spazsinbad** » 10 Apr 2013, 20:24

An old Osprey thread with all the gen: Can a COD V-22 Transport F-35B/C Engines to CVN/LHA?

http://www.f-16.net/f-16_forum_viewtopi ... sprey.html
&
http://www.f-16.net/index.php?name=PNph ... y&start=45

spazsinbad · by **spazsinbad** » 10 Apr 2013, 22:03

Potential new V-22 competitor?

VIDEO: Bell V-280 Valor -- The Future of Vertical Lift Takes Flight

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1O3Onyas ... r_embedded

"Published on Apr 10, 2013
The Bell V-280 Valor, Bell Helicopter's third-generation-tiltrotor, offers the U.S. Army the highest levels of maturity and technical readiness. With its U.S. Army-centric design, the Bell V-280 has the capacity to perform a multitude of missions with unparalleled speed and agility. The Bell V-280's clean sheet design reduces complexity compared to previous generation tiltrotors, with fewer parts, as well as non-rotating, fixed engines. The Valor delivers the best value in procurement, operations and support, and force structure, providing increased maintainability, component reliability and systems designed to reduce operational and support costs.

Visit BellV280.com for more details"

_______________________

And go here: http://bellv280.com/
FOR:
Fact Sheet: http://bellv280.com/wp-content/uploads/ ... 13-web.pdf (1.7Mb)
______________

Bell Unveils V-280 Valor Tiltrotor For Future Vertical Lift Program 10 Apr 2013 By Colin Clark

http://defense.aol.com/2013/04/10/bell- ... lift-prog/

"Bell Helicopter has unveiled what may become what everyone hoped the V-22 Osprey would be, a tiltrotor able to operate at high altitudes for long ranges and with easily managed downwash.

The new aircraft, to be known as the V-280 Valor, is the company's offering for the Army's Future Vertical Lift technology demonstration program...."

count_to_10 · by **count_to_10** » 10 Apr 2013, 22:39

That was a whole lot of production effort to advertize a speculative aircraft.
I noticed that the engines don't rotate with the rotors.

hobo · by **hobo** » 10 Apr 2013, 22:50

Ooh, a tiltrotor!

Could be BS's newest vendetta.

count_to_10 · by **count_to_10** » 10 Apr 2013, 23:02

hobo wrote:Ooh, a tiltrotor!

Could be BS's newest vendetta.

Oh, I don't know. There is already a huge market for Osprey hate online. If Sweetman isn't already in, he's late to the party.

maus92 · by **maus92** » 10 Apr 2013, 23:05

spazsinbad wrote:And the V-22 may be coming to a CVN near youse.... CODwise....

Osprey Takes on Greyhound in Fight Over U.S. Navy’s COD Andrew Drwiega 09 Apr 2013
"The U.S. Navy’s future Carrier Onboard Delivery (COD) requirement looks like it’s breaking down into a straight fight between a modernized version of the current aircraft, Northrop Grumman’s C-2A Greyhound, and the new contender in the Bell-Boeing V-22 Osprey....

...the Bell-Boeing partnership believes that the Osprey, while suitable for the COD mission, can also add value by potentially increasing its utility in ship-to-ship resupply and load transfer. The landing on the carrier may be the last in a series of landings when delivering to a carrier battle group, suggested Richard Linhart...

...With the U.S. Marine Corps heading toward being the biggest user of the MV-22B Osprey at 360 aircraft, a requirement has already been identified by the U.S. Navy for 48 V-22s to fulfill multi-mission roles, meaning a leap to another 35 or so Ospreys would just add numbers to a new type coming into service.

Linhart also said that testing was underway for the Osprey to act as an aerial refueling platform, potentially for F-18 fighters. “The Osprey flying at 250 knots [not its maximum speed] could do the job effectively,” he said. Wind tunnel tests have been conducted over the last year on how the drogue basket would be deployed from the V-22. USMC and the U.S. Air Force currently carry out refueling the Osprey to extend its range, but the V-22 acting as a tanker would be a new mission.

Anti-submarine warfare (ASW) is another potential mission that could be offered to the Navy, pushing out the acoustic search for submarines beyond the current range of the fleet’s dedicated Sea Hawks. “The aircraft could certainly drop sonar buoys,” said Linhard, although he added that there is no current solution on offer.

The Navy does have one problem that neither aircraft can currently meet—the delivery of a Joint Strike Fighter engine from shore to ship over distance. Neither aircraft can carry the engine internally in one piece, due to the way it is packaged. The V-22 could take it as an underslung load but it would be impractical to do so over any meaningful distance. “We are working with the program people on a number of ideas,” stated Linhart.

The U.S. Navy could issue a draft Request for Proposal (RfP) as early as next year with a potential decision in 2015. Actual funding may then be expected around 2017 (given the usual provisions associated with the Department of Defense’s budgeting issues)."

http://www.aviationtoday.com/rw/militar ... 78943.html

The guys at the NG E-2/C-2 booth were scoffing at the idea of MV-22 CODs - they carry less, have a shorter range, there is no support for the type presently aboard, and it will take a larger fleet of MV-22s to provide the same level of support to the fleet. They were quick to point out that you can fit the fuselage of a MV-22 inside the cargo bay of a C-2 (I didn't ask them to explain that one.) But the real selling point for the C-2 is cost. They (NG) estimates that it will take about $200M to refirb what's needed (wing box, landing gear, cockpit/avionics, flight control linkages/FBW, hyd etc. - and that's for the entire fleet of C-2's - and defer the stuff that's not needed atm. Seeing that MV-22s are ~$65M each.....

spazsinbad · by **spazsinbad** » 10 Apr 2013, 23:05

The V-22 seems to be doing well these days - I do not follow developments closely - except when the AXEman does a number on the V-22.

_________

And 'maus92' posted at same time so I'll respond.... I guess the real selling point is not only the VL or SRVL (which has been trialled - another link on this forum has that info) of the V-22 but the potential swing role for the LHAs and I'll guess potentially the CVFs. The CVNs are always going to do BIG IRON Stuff and good luck to them.

Perhaps the lilypad hopping V-22 on way to CVN via smaller decks point was missed. I'll guess the USMC will get a bunch and the CVNs can watch.

maus92 · by **maus92** » 10 Apr 2013, 23:27

On Monday, Gen. Amos was touting a reduced island structure for follow-on America class LHAs, a similar arrangement to the Ford class CVN. The new design gives them 2 extra spots forward the island on the starboard side.

count_to_10 · by **count_to_10** » 10 Apr 2013, 23:30

No doubt the V-22 is more expensive and less efficient. The selling point for it would be that it would add a lot of functionality.

popcorn · by **popcorn** » 11 Apr 2013, 00:09

count_to_10 wrote:No doubt the V-22 is more expensive and less efficient. The selling point for it would be that it would add a lot of functionality.

Definitely the solution for the Gator Fleet. Expanding the Osprey's mission roles will go a long way toward reducing dependence on the big-deck carriers. As a COD replacement, the imperative to save money in the short term may prove too compelling to the Navy.

neptune · by **neptune** » 11 Apr 2013, 00:24

Apparently AWACS for the LHx vessels is uninteresting. Lest it be over looked, the V-22 with no tailhook would be providing a communications node capability for the F-35B. The Ro-Ro modules seem to provide sufficient flexibility for upgrades, similar to the Marine's Harvest Hawk. if it is sharing systems with the "Bee", perhaps AESA, EO/DAS, CNI, sensor merge, would provide additional capability beyond the E2-D. The new canoe configurations for the P-8 could lead to a modified "Wedgetail", version. :ontopic:

XanderCrews · by **XanderCrews** » 11 Apr 2013, 00:28

maus92 wrote:
The Navy does have one problem that neither aircraft can currently meet—the delivery of a Joint Strike Fighter engine from shore to ship over distance. Neither aircraft can carry the engine internally in one piece, due to the way it is packaged.

I asked a sailor about this and he said the way the engines are packages they couldn't fly F414s in either. How credible that was, I have no idea as we talk about other sailors saying they can fit ospreys in greyhounds :wink:

spazsinbad · by **spazsinbad** » 11 Apr 2013, 00:36

'neppy' not much detail on the AWACS thingies. Anyhoo here is a repeat with some good info on the V-22 from BOING!

V-22 Osprey Guidebook 2011-2 Buy BOING! For BOING!

http://www.boeing.com/ospreynews/2011/i ... debook.pdf (3.7Mb)