Osprey Guidebook

MV-22 MISSIONAfghanistanOperation Enduring FreedomNovember 2009 to PresentSNAPSHOTFor example, in January 2010 a Taliban leader in the Marine’sArea of Operations (AO) had been working with an ImprovisedExplosive Device (IED) maker. Intel sources had been trackinghis movements as he arrived at one of two locations every dayaround the same time.Mission Execution: At L-hour, in a bold daylight raid, 4 MV-22shit two separate Landing Zones (LZs) simultaneously. Leveragingthe aircraft’s precision navigation capability, L-hour was madeexactly on time, and the aircraft landed within 50’ of the targetbuildings. On short final, 30-40’ from landing, Osprey aircrews“saw the surprise in a local national’s face as he did a ‘jumpstutter step’ because he had just noticed us.” Upon landing,the assault element debarked. The target was in the vicinity of abazaar, was tracked, and subsequently captured.During Operation Enduring Freedom, the MV-22established its presence in an historic 10-aircraft,510-mile, single-leg transit from amphibiousshipping. All aircraft arrived safely at their new basetwo hours and 15 minutes after takeoff.To date, MV-22s in OEF have flown over 14,000 flight hours,carried over 148,000 passengers and over five million poundsof cargo.The MV-22 has been utilized with great success in direct actionmissions in OEF. Using its speed and range to ingress fromunexpected directions, and capitalizing on its low aural signatureto approach unnoticed, the Osprey has been a key factor ingiving our forces a tremendous tactical advantage.Later that day, a resupply mission was conducted by a pair ofMV-22s into the LZ, now controlled by friendly forces. In thewords of the Forward Air Controller (FAC) on the ground, “thetwo MVs came out of the sun and we couldn’t see or hear themuntil they were right on top of us… less than 30 seconds out.”Missions that could not be executed using conventional rotorcrafthave become commonplace, greatly enhancing the Commander’sability to influence the Area of Responsibility (AOR).These examples, and countless others like it, show thetremendous performance of both the MV-22 and the Marines whooperate and maintain the aircraft.34 MV-22 Operation Enduring FreedomMV-22 Operation Enduring Freedom35