V-22 To Assume Aerial-Tanker Mission

The Navy and Marine Corps intend to adapt the V-22 Osprey tilt-rotor aircraft for aerial refueling missions. Speaking at the Navy League Sea-Air-Space exposition on May 16, V-22 program manager Col. Daniel Robinson said that the summer of 2018 is the target date for the new capability. Tanker-configured Ospreys would be capable of refueling both the F-35 Lighting II strike fighter and the CH-53 heavy-lift helicopter.