Defense Department Estimates A 61 Percent Increase Over Three Years

New figures from the Department of Defense indicate that the cost of flying and maintaining the Marine Corps' V-22 Osprey fleet of 360 aircraft has jumped from $75 billion over 30 years to $121 billion ... or about 61 percent.

The estimate comes at a time of potential deep cuts in military budgets, and the Marines are trying to sustain an ambitious aviation modernization plan. Meanwhile, Boeing and Bell, which build the V-22s, are pitching more of the aircraft to the U.S. and foreign military customers.

Wired magazine reports that the Ospreys have had problems since they first entered development 30 years ago. The magazine reports that part of the reason for the higher operating and maintenance costs are the powerful Rolls-Royce engines which give the aircraft its ability to take off and land vertically, but cruise like a normal fixed-wing airplane. They are also more than three times as expensive as a UH-60 Blackhawk helicopter to purchase.

Analysts say that the growing cost of purchasing and operating the V-22 could eat into money the Marine Corps hopes to spend on F-35B aircraft, as well as modernization of the services' rotary wing fleet. A recent report indicated that they might consider cutting the H-1 helicopter program in favor of the JSF purchase.

FMI: www.marines.mil