The V-22 programme has no plans to change a cost-reduction goal, despite a US Department of Defense proposal to slow the production rate over the next five years, writes Stephen Trimble.
The joint US Navy/US Air Force tiltrotor production strategy calls for reducing the cost-per-aircraft from $73 million to $58 million by 2010, and there is "no change in focus", says Col Craig Olson, joint programme manager.
Reducing aircraft costs would also make the V-22 more attractive for export.
Bell Boeing programme manager Mike Tkach says the $58 million affordability goal was set in 2000 and has survived one major programme restructuring. A series of contracts signed to date show that all affordability targets are being met.
Internal Pentagon spending plans for fiscal year 2006 call for deferring the purchase of 22 tiltrotors over the next five years, saving $1.2 billion, but making costs for each aircraft creep up.
Bell V-22 programme manager Bob Ellithorpe says the budget cut proposal may affect the affordability goal, as the delayed orders would "change the denominator" for aircraft costs.
Source: Flight International
