Photo Credit: U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Andy M. Kin The Bell Boeing V-22 Osprey tiltrotor aircraft succes...
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| Photo Credit: U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Andy M. Kin |
During the trials the V-22 was armed with a variety of forward-facing munitions, and engaged ground targets with a high degree of reliability.
The capability is being developed to meet the U.S. Air Force Special Operations Command requirement to enable the V-22 Osprey platform to defend itself during operations in hostile regions.
These weapons will provide added firepower and reduce reliance on Forward Arming and Refueling Points (FARPs) which are sometimes necessary to supply short range attack rotorcraft in support of V-22 operations.
Bell flight test crews launched two Griffin B missiles, scoring direct hits from both hover mode and during conversion mode (tilting rotor) at 110 knots.
A FARP allows an aircraft to refuel and re-arm from an designated area, in order to reengage the mission without need to return to home base.
Bell Helicopter began initial design work on forward fire capability in mid-2013.
The Griffin B (BGM-176B) is a forward-firing missile capable of launching from rotary- and fixed-wing aircraft, ground-launch applications and maritime platforms. The Griffin missile is 43 inches long, weighs 33 pounds, has a 13-pound warhead.
The Griffin B missile has a significant off-axis launch capability, allowing aircrews to precisely strike targets to the left or right of the aircraft flight path. Griffin B can engage static and moving targets through a significant range of launch speeds.
Pilot can engage targets via a simple user interface and guide the weapon to the target using GPS coordinates exclusively or with laser designation. To maximize lethality, the pilot can choose to engage the target with direct attack or high impact angle and has the option of using height of burst, point detonation or delayed fuzing.
Through the end of the third quarter of 2014, Bell Boeing has delivered 242 MV-22 tiltrotor for the Marine Corps and 44 CV-22 for Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC).
The Osprey takes off and lands like a helicopter. Once airborne, its engine nacelles can be rotated to convert the aircraft to a turboprop airplane.
The Osprey can transport 24 combat troops or 20,000 pounds of internal or up to 15,000 pounds of external cargo.
