GRAHAM WARWICK /WASHINGTON DC
Decision will free $230 million to pay for spiral development project and cost reductions
Production of the Bell Boeing V-22 Osprey tiltrotor is to ramp up more slowly than planned, to release funds for interoperability upgrades and cost-reduction initiatives.
The decision by new defence undersecretary for acquisition Michael Wynne reduces the number of V-22s procured in 2006 and 2007, but increases the total purchased in the 2005-9 defence plan from 145 to 152 aircraft.
Slowing the near-term production ramp will release $230 million to fund a spiral development effort to introduce the Link 16 datalink and Joint Tactical Radio System to enhance the V-22's interoperability. The funds will pay for initiatives to reduce the tiltrotor's unit flyaway cost to $58 million by 2010, compared with today's $68.6 million.
Officials see the decision as an endorsement of progress made with the V-22, as Wynne has directed the programme office to begin planning to speed multi-year procurement, which was due to start in 2008 but could now begin in 2007. Cost savings from multi-year procurement are key to ensuring the affordability of the V-22, the officials say.
The missing hydraulic line filter clamp that led to fluid loss and the unscheduled landing of a flight-test V-22 was a manufacturing fault, investigators say (Flight International, 12-18 August). The clamp design was changed with aircraft 21, the incident aircraft and the first low-rate initial production V-22, but has been changed again with the first Block A Osprey, aircraft 34, scheduled for delivery soon.Source: Flight International
