A recent congressional hearing has brought attention to the declining readiness rates of the V-22 Osprey, as well as a concerning increase in mishaps associated with the aircraft. During the session, lawmakers expressed their frustrations over the ongoing issues, despite assurances from Navy and Marine Corps officials regarding improvements in operations. The hearing took place on Capitol Hill before the House Armed Services subcommittees on Seapower and Projection Forces and Readiness.
The Government Accountability Office (GAO) released a report indicating that serious accident rates for both the Marine Corps and Air Force had exceeded the average for fixed and rotary aircraft fleets in nearly all years since 2019, with the exception of 2019 itself. For fiscal years 2023 and 2024, the report highlighted that Class A and Class B mishap rates—incidents that result in damages exceeding $600,000 or serious injury—were significantly higher than the average.
In his remarks, Rep. Jack Bergman (R-Mich.) emphasized the need for urgent action, stating, “These readiness trends are out of line with the balance of the Naval Aviation enterprise, and need to be rapidly addressed.” He also pointed out the troubling number of “hangar queens,” a term used to describe aircraft that are not operational.
During the hearing, Diana Moldafsky, a director at the GAO, noted a lack of systematic approaches within the Department of Defense to manage safety risks associated with the Osprey’s operations and maintenance. She underscored the necessity for improved communication regarding safety and risk information among program offices and at the unit level.
“The service members, the pilots, talk to each other… but not anything that’s formalized,” Moldafsky explained, highlighting the need for structured communication to mitigate risks.
In response to these concerns, Brig. Gen. David Walsh, program executive officer for Air Anti-Submarine Warfare, Assault, and Special Mission Programs at Naval Air Systems Command, stated that the Marine Corps is producing and delivering improved gearboxes at a rate of 12 per month to all three military services. He expressed optimism that these improvements would help lift the airworthiness controls that have restricted full flight operations since March 2024.
“The V-22 provides unmatched operational capability and flexibility,” Walsh asserted. “We owe the men and women who count on this platform every day the safest, most ready aircraft that we can provide, and we are fully committed to doing just that.”
The hearing also included comments from Vice Admiral John Dougherty, NAVAIR’s commander. He reported that there have been no hard clutch engagements—a mechanical failure linked to a fatal crash in 2022—since the military implemented service life limits on a critical component in February 2023.
“We are qualifying a new, more robust design to be fielded in late 2027,” Dougherty said, emphasizing that these upgrades would enhance safety and readiness for the V-22 in the future.
Despite the assurances from military officials, the current mission-capable rates for the Osprey remain troubling. A comprehensive review conducted in 2025 indicated rates around 60 percent, but officials cited even lower numbers: approximately 50 percent for the Marine Corps and 40 percent for the Navy.
As lawmakers expressed skepticism about the future of the V-22 platform, with Rep. Donald Norcross (D-N.J.) questioning whether the military had been “stubbornly dedicated” to it, officials reaffirmed their commitment to its ongoing development. Dougherty concluded, “We’ve identified clear actions that we’re taking… that is our top priority, and it will remain my top priority as the airworthiness authority.”
The current situation surrounding the V-22 Osprey underscores a complex balance between operational demands and safety concerns, as military leaders work to ensure the aircraft can meet its critical roles while addressing the pressing issues of readiness and risk management.
