Boeing has opened a new facility outside Philadelphia to build fuselages for the V-22 Osprey tiltrotor aircraft and modernize the MV-22 fleet for the U.S. Marines (USMC).
The company has invested $115M in the new 350,000 ft² facility to improve safety and productivity as well as reduce operating costs.
Boeing Vertical Lift Vice President and General Manager David Koopersmith said, “Boeing’s $115M investment supports the U.S. and international demand for the unrivaled capabilities of the V-22. “We started this project 2 years ago in a mothballed building. Now, it is a state-of-the-art manufacturing center for the only in-service tiltrotor aircraft in the world.”
The company will use the facility as the hub for the “Common Configuration: Readiness and Modernization (CC-RAM)” program to improve the readiness and reliability of the USMC tiltrotor aircraft fleet.
The CC-RAM program seeks to improve commonality in the MV-22 Osprey”s fleet by upgrading previously built aircraft to the new Block C configuration. Additionally, the factory will be used for the production of the fuselage for the U.S. Navy, Air Force, Marines, and international Osprey customers.
USMC V-22 Joint Program Manager Colonel Matthew Kelly said: “The V-22 readiness program is our number one priority. The CC-RAM program is key in meeting our readiness goals and returning capable and reliable aircraft to Marine units around the world.”