Navy picks HV-22 for COD role
 

Navy Decides to Buy V-22 Ospreys for Carrier Delivery « Breaking Defense - Defense industry news, analysis and commentary

Cheers

I wonder if the F135 engine will fit in as one piece or will it need to be broken down into a few components. The F-35B version certainly will. But one big plus is any deck that can land an Osprey can now get the COD which will save an enormous amount of cross decking and take a time consuming job away from the CVN.

Any chance of the Royal Navy following suit;) from Gannet to Osprey

I suspect the RN would like them, but the UK does not have the money.

From the artwork that has been shown, it appears that the requirement is to carry a complete engine:

http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/...pufbsoftbd.jpg

The solution for the "C-3" and the V-22 is to ditch the heavy transport coffin and put the engine on a carriage frame or skid.

AW&ST , Feb 25, 2014: Bell Tests V-22 JSF Engine Carrying Capability

Bell Helicopter has been evaluating the ability of its MV-22 Osprey tiltrotor to carry the engine of an F-35 Joint Strike Fighter.

The trials, part of the company’s ongoing work to prove the Osprey as a potential successor to the Grumman C-2 Greyhound carrier onboard delivery (COD) aircraft, saw the company load a frame designed by Pratt & Whitney to carry the power section of the F135 engine loaded into the rear cabin of the Osprey.

“The container for the engine is too large to be carried in the aircraft,” said Bell CEO John Garrison on the eve of Heli-Expo 2014. He said the engine would instead be mounted in the frame, allowing the cabin of the aircraft to act as the engine’s container. It would not include the lift fan of the F-35B.

“The Marines are particularly interested in the capability,” Garrison said.

The trials were conducted using Bell’s V-22 technology demonstration aircraft in mid-February. Trials have already seen the aircraft operate from one of the Navy’s CVN carriers as well as ships and helicopter carriers from other world navies.......