Does anyone know if the V-22 will be able to buddy refuel? That ability may be useful for extending V-22 range also from LHAs etc.
Marine Wing Commander Endorses Aerial Refueling Mission for V-22 Osprey 21 Nov 2013 Stew Magnuson
"SAN DIEGO — A Bell Helicopter-Boeing Co. proposal to use the V-22 Osprey tilt-rotor aircraft as a refueling tanker has the endorsement of one of the Marine Corp's wing commanders, and at least one of his higher-ups.
Maj. Gen. Steven Busby, commanding general of of the third Marine aircraft wing at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, Calif., said Nov. 20 at the Milcom conference that he would welcome having some of the service's MV-22 variants serve in that capacity.
"Having a tanker version of the MV-22 coming off an amphibious platform is going to be able to extend the range of the Joint Strike Fighter beyond what we currently have with the F-35B and is going to be able to provide potential refueling capabilities maybe for the CH-53," he said....
...Busby said: "It will show in my mind to everybody that the MV-22 is not a helicopter. It is an aircraft that can land like a helicopter."
"To be able to put fuel in the back of the MV-22 is going to greatly increase the power of the amphibious force ... It's going to significantly change I think how we push some of those platforms from the sea," Busby added.
While the tiltrotor aircraft tested its refueling capabilities with the jet fighters, the hoses employed are universal, and the Osprey could refuel any other aircraft, so long as it was going at the proper speed, Boeing officials told National Defense shortly after the test.
No fuel was actually transferred during the test, but the V-22 was able to deploy and retract its refueling equipment as the fighters flew behind...."
Marine Wing Commander Endorses Aerial Refueling Mission for V-22 Osprey - Blog