The U.S. Navy's C-2 Greyhound has conducted its last carrier landing, officially ending its decades-long role in carrier onboard delivery. The CMV-22 Osprey will now assume this critical logistics mission, ferrying personnel, mail, and high-priority cargo between shore bases and aircraft carriers at sea. The transition reflects the Navy's broader shift toward tiltrotor technology for increased speed and range.
The retirement of the Greyhound alters carrier air wing composition and logistics planning. The Osprey's ability to carry the F-35's lift fan engine directly to the flight deck eliminates the need for deck-edge transfers, improving maintenance efficiency. This change reduces the carrier's reliance on traditional fixed-wing logistics aircraft while enhancing operational tempo.
Allied navies and defense analysts are monitoring the Osprey's integration into carrier operations. The U.S. Marine Corps already operates the MV-22 variant, and the Navy's adoption may influence partner nations considering tiltrotor platforms for maritime logistics. Rival navies may view this as a capability gap during the transition period.
Neither the contract value for the CMV-22 procurement nor the specific timeline for full operational capability were disclosed in the available sources. Previous reports indicated the Navy planned to acquire 39 CMV-22Bs, with deliveries ongoing through the early 2020s. The Greyhound fleet has been gradually phased out over recent years.
Analysts note the Osprey's higher maintenance demands and historical safety concerns could offset some operational gains. The tiltrotor's accident rate has been higher than the Greyhound's, though the Navy's variant includes improvements for carrier suitability. The long-term reliability of the CMV-22 in the carrier onboard delivery role remains to be seen under sustained deployment conditions.