Archive image: A U.S. Air Force CV-22 Osprey assigned to the 352d Special Operations Wing flies during Exercise Point Blank over England, Feb. 4, 2026.
U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Sarah Spadie.
Amarillo, TX (April 20, 2026) – Bell Textron announced initial results and benefits from more than 10,000 flight hours of Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC) V-22 Osprey (CV-22) tiltrotors with the Nacelle Improvement (NI) Program.
The first of nine CV-22s with the 20th Special Operations Squadron at Cannon Air Force Base received the NI upgrade in 2021, and the program has produced a 75 percent reduction in maintenance hours resulting in a significant boost in operational readiness and maintainability.
The V-22 Osprey nacelle houses critical power components to the V-22’s vertical take-off and landing capabilities and transition to forward flight. The NI program is a targeted upgrade designed to modernize the V-22’s nacelles. By simplifying wiring, enhancing structural components, and integrating fleet maintainer-informed feedback, NI improves the Osprey’s reliability, readiness, and sustainability for any mission for the next 30 years.
«Since the initial rollout, the CV-22 Nacelle Improvement has saved AFSOC more than 24,000 maintenance hours, equating to a savings of more than 1,000 days of maintainer time that can be used toward other high-priority needs,” said V-22 Joint Program Office Principal Military Deputy Program Manager and CV-22 Senior Materiel Leader. “CV-22 readiness saw more than a 10 percent increase; meaning more mission capable CV-22s on the flightline, which allows for further training and improved safety.”
Bell completes the NI modification at its Amarillo Assembly Center (AAC), which actively produces V-22s for the U.S. Department of War. The AAC assembles all variants of the Bell Boeing V-22 model – MV-22, CMV-22, and CV-22.
“The Nacelle Improvement Program enhances the V-22s reliability, flexibility, and global reach for combat and humanitarian missions alike,” said Kurt Fuller, senior vice president, Military Fielded Programs, Bell. “We are pleased to see these remarkable results from the NI program and look forward to continued collaboration to enhance focus on V-22 safety, sustainability, and readiness.”
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