The first night deck landings of a US Marine Corps (USMC) Bell-Boeing MV-22 Osprey tiltrotor have been conducted from the UK Royal Navy (RN) aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth .
The MV-22 Osprey from HX-21 Squadron performed 22 landings as part of a night evaluation of Queen Elizabeth’s lighting, deck configuration, deck motion, and handling qualities. (Royal Navy/Crown Copyright)
Undertaken on 19 September by an MV-22 aircraft from HX-21 Squadron, based at Naval Air Station Patuxent River, the trial was designed to expand on the extant day clearance by undertaking a night evaluation of Queen Elizabeth’s lighting, deck configuration, deck motion, and handling qualities. A total of 22 deck landings were conducted, using 2 spot, 3 spot, and 4 spot.
“Initial feedback suggested it was a positive trial and further demonstrates the interoperability between the UK and US operating to the Queen Elizabeth class [QEC] aircraft carriers,” an RN spokesperson told Jane’s . “This trial will effectively allow the MV-22 to be able to deliver cargo to QEC ships 24 hours a day, and specifically it will allow F-35 engines to be delivered to the ship any time to meet operational tasking.”
The RN has been anxious to further MV-22 integration on the QEC ships to establish the Osprey as a credible maritime intra-theatre lift solution. (Royal Navy/Crown Copyright)
Queen Elizabeth , together with the Type 45 destroyer HMS Dragon , the Type 23 frigate HMS Northumberland, and the Tide-class tanker RFA Tideforce , is currently operating off the US eastern seaboard as part of the ‘WESTLANT 19’ deployment.
It is unclear whether the MV-22 will form part of the USMC aviation element embarking on board Queen Elizabeth
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