The US Navy plans to stand up two new squadrons to operate its CMV-22B Osprey tiltrotor aircraft for the carrier-onboarddelivery (COD) mission and not convert its existing C-2A Greyhound squadrons; Fleet Logistics Support Squadron 30 (VRC-30) based at Naval Air Station North Island, California, and VRC-40, based at Naval Station Norfolk, Virginia.
According to Lt Leslie Hubbell, a spokeswoman for Commander, Naval Air Force, US Pacific Fleet the US Navy intends to stand-up two new Fleet Logistics Support Multi-Mission Squadrons (VRM) equipped with the CMV-22B. Hubbell said: “The VRC squadrons will not transition or be redesignated. It’s a new community, with a new wing [and], two new VRM squadrons [VRM-30 on the West Coast and VRM-40 on the East Coast].”
Hubbell said there will also be a CMV-22B Fleet Replacement Squadron in the future. The E-2 Hawkeye and C-2 type wing — Commander, Airborne Command Control and Logistics Wing Pacific — in charge of the US Navy’s E-2 and C-2 units has established a detachment at Marine Corps Air Station New River, North Carolina, to lay the foundation for Navy crew training in the Osprey in company with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Training Squadron 204 (VMMT-204). The US Navy plans to procure 44 CMV- 22Bs, with deliveries beginning in 2020.
Rick Burgess
