Flight International online 15:00GMT: The once-troubled Bell Boeing V-22 Osprey tiltrotor has crossed one of the last hurdles before entering full service with the US armed forces. The Department of Defense today granted approval for full rate production (FRP) to Bell Helicopter.

Under current plans, 360 aircraft will be delivered to the US Marine Corps, 50 to the US Air Force and 48 to the US Navy. The total programme is worth more than $19 billion to Bell and parent company Textron through to 2018.

FRP authorises Bell and Boeing to increase current low-rate production of 11 aircraft a year to 48. Today's decision by the Defense Acquisition Board follows the successful completion of extensive operational evaluation testing, conducted last summer by the Marines.

The tiltrotor combines fixed-wing and vertical lift capabilities that allows it to take off and land like a helicopter and fly like a fixed-wing aircraft.

"The V-22 Osprey is an unprecedented feat in aviation and an excellent example of how our investments in innovation are fueling organic growth for Textron," says Lewis Campbell, the company's chief executive.

The initial Ospreys - MV-22s - will be delivered to the USMC for use in combat assault. Each Osprey can carry 24 Marines with full combat gear. The Air Force version of the tiltrotor, called the CV-22, is a special operations aircraft designed for the long range insertion and removal of special teams. Other mission critical capabilities for the V-22 include combat search-and-rescue, aerial refueling and anti-submarine warfare.

Source: Flight International