MV-22 Osprey and MV-75 Specifications Comparison
The following table compares the Bell Boeing MV-22 Osprey, the world's first production tiltrotor aircraft, with the Bell MV-75, its designated successor under the U.S. Army's Future Long-Range Assault Aircraft program. The MV-22 entered Marine Corps service in 2007 and employs a first-generation tilt mechanism where entire engine nacelles rotate during transition between helicopter and airplane modes. The MV-75 incorporates a newer-generation design where nacelles remain fixed while only the rotors and drive shafts pivot, reducing mechanical complexity and improving maintainability.1
Though both aircraft serve assault transport roles, they represent different service requirements. The MV-22 was developed primarily for the Marine Corps' amphibious assault mission with emphasis on shipboard compatibility and troop capacity. The MV-75 is designed for the Army's long-range air assault doctrine, prioritizing speed and operational reach for distributed operations across expansive theaters such as the Indo-Pacific.2
Data Quality Indicators:
Standard text = confirmed specification
Italic text = estimated or projected value
Gray text = unknown or undisclosed
Standard text = confirmed specification
Italic text = estimated or projected value
Gray text = unknown or undisclosed
| Specification | MV-22B Osprey | MV-75 |
|---|---|---|
| Designation | MV-22B (USMC); CV-22B (USAF); CMV-22B (USN) | MV-75 (formerly V-280 Valor, YMV-75A) |
| Developers | Bell Helicopter / Boeing Rotorcraft Systems | Bell Helicopter (Textron) |
| Primary Service | U.S. Marine Corps (primary); USAF; USN; JGSDF | U.S. Army |
| Primary Role | Assault support; medium-lift transport | Long-range assault; utility; MEDEVAC |
| First Flight | 19 March 1989 | 18 December 2017 (demonstrator) |
| Service Entry | 13 June 2007 (IOC) | 2028–2030 (planned) |
| Technology Generation | First-generation production tiltrotor | Second-generation tiltrotor |
| Crew | 4 (2 pilots, 2 flight engineers) | 4 |
| Troop Capacity (seated) | 24 troops | 14 troops |
| Troop Capacity (floor loaded) | 32 troops | Unknown |
| Maximum Takeoff Weight (vertical) | 23,860 kg (52,600 lb) | ~13,600 kg (~30,000 lb) |
| Maximum Takeoff Weight (STO) | 27,400 kg (60,500 lb) | Unknown |
| Empty Weight | 15,030 kg (33,140 lb) | Unknown |
| Internal Cargo Capacity | 9,070 kg (20,000 lb) | ~2,700 kg (~6,000 lb) estimated |
| External Cargo (single hook) | 4,540 kg (10,000 lb) | 4,500 kg (10,000 lb) |
| External Cargo (dual hook) | 6,800 kg (15,000 lb) | Unknown |
| Cruise Speed | 446 km/h (241 kt; 277 mph) at sea level | 520 km/h (280 kt; 323 mph) |
| Maximum Speed | 509 km/h (275 kt; 316 mph) at sea level; 565 km/h (305 kt; 351 mph) at 4,570 m (15,000 ft) |
556 km/h (300 kt; 345 mph) |
| Combat Radius | 690 km (370 nm; 430 mi) | 930–1,480 km (500–800 nm; 580–920 mi) |
| Ferry Range | 3,590 km (1,940 nm; 2,230 mi) with auxiliary tanks | 3,900 km (2,100 nm; 2,420 mi) |
| Self-Deploy Range | 4,200 km (2,267 nm) with aerial refueling | Unknown |
| Service Ceiling | 7,620 m (25,000 ft) | Unknown |
| Rate of Climb | 16.2 m/s (3,190 ft/min) | Unknown |
| Powerplant | 2× Rolls-Royce AE 1107C Liberty turboshafts | 2× Rolls-Royce AE 1107F turboshafts |
| Engine Power (each) | 4,590 kW (6,150 shp) | 5,220 kW (7,000 shp) |
| Rotor Configuration | 3-bladed proprotors; 11.6 m (38 ft) diameter | 3-bladed proprotors |
| Tilt Mechanism | Entire nacelle rotates (engine + gearbox + rotor) | Only rotors pivot; nacelles fixed |
| Wing Span | 14.0 m (45 ft 10 in) over nacelles | Unknown |
| Length (overall) | 17.5 m (57 ft 4 in) | Unknown |
| Length (fuselage) | 17.5 m (57 ft 4 in) | Unknown |
| Height | 6.7 m (22 ft 1 in) with nacelles vertical | Unknown |
| Tail Configuration | H-tail with twin vertical stabilizers | Conventional tail with twin vertical stabilizers |
| Landing Gear | Retractable tricycle | Retractable tricycle; heavy-duty for unprepared fields |
| Shipboard Compatibility | All USN L-class amphibious ships; CV/CVN carriers | Unknown; Army platform |
| Folding Capability | Rotor fold and wing rotation (90 seconds) | Unknown |
| Aerial Refueling | Yes; probe and drogue | Unknown |
| Flight Control | Triple-redundant fly-by-wire | Fly-by-wire |
| Avionics | Glass cockpit; 6 LCD displays; NVG compatible | Lockheed Martin integrated avionics; MOSA architecture3 |
| Defensive Systems | AN/AAR-47 missile warning; AN/ALE-47 countermeasures; IR suppressors | Unknown; expected advanced EW suite |
| Armament | 1× 7.62 mm GAU-17 or M240 (belly/ramp); optional 7.62 mm RGS turret | Unknown |
| Autonomous Capability | Limited; pilot assistance systems | Semi-autonomous and autonomous flight planned |
| Unit Cost | ~$72 million (FY2014 dollars)4 | ~$43 million (projected) |
| Fleet Size | ~450 aircraft (as of 2025) | None operational; 6 prototypes contracted |
| Flight Hours | >750,000 cumulative | ~214 hours (demonstrator) |
| First Operator | U.S. Marine Corps VMM-263 | U.S. Army 101st Airborne Division (planned) |
| Planned Service Life | Beyond 2060s with ReVAMP life extension | Multiple decades |
Key Technological Differences
| Feature | MV-22B Osprey | MV-75 |
|---|---|---|
| Nacelle Design | Entire nacelle (engine, gearbox, rotor) tilts 0°–97.5° | Fixed nacelle; only proprotor and driveshaft tilt |
| Mechanical Complexity | Higher; rotating engine nacelles require complex sealing and thermal management | Lower; fixed engines simplify maintenance and improve reliability |
| Engine Accessibility | Engines rotate through 97.5° arc; maintenance access varies with nacelle position | Engines fixed; improved maintenance access |
| Systems Architecture | 1990s-era integrated avionics | Modular Open Systems Approach (MOSA); digital backbone |
| Design Philosophy | Maximized capacity for amphibious assault | Optimized speed and range for deep penetration |
Operational Context
| Factor | MV-22B Osprey | MV-75 |
|---|---|---|
| Replaces | CH-46E Sea Knight | UH-60 Black Hawk |
| Primary Theater | Expeditionary; ship-to-shore; global response | Indo-Pacific; Europe; contested environments |
| Doctrine | Amphibious assault; vertical envelopment | Large-Scale Long-Range Air Assault (L2A2) |
| Speed Advantage over Predecessor | ~2× faster than CH-46E | ~2× faster than UH-60 |
| Range Advantage over Predecessor | ~6× greater than CH-46E | ~10× greater than UH-60 |
Endnotes
- Bell MV-75. Wikipedia. One major difference from the earlier V-22 Osprey tiltrotor is that the engines remain in place while the rotors and drive shafts tilt. ?
- U.S. MV-75 rotorcraft advances to replace Black Hawk after successful flight test. Army Recognition, June 2025. The MV-75 supports the Large-Scale Long-Range Air Assault concept for deep strikes across theaters like Indo-Pacific and Europe. ?
- Bell MV-75 - Future Long Range Assault Aircraft. Bell Flight. Built with MOSA, an Open-Architecture Digital Backbone, enabling on-demand integrations of new mission system equipment. ?
- Bell Boeing V-22 Osprey Specs. Helicopter Specs. Unit costs vary by variant and production lot; figure represents approximate average. ?
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