The U.S. Navy has contracted a joint venture of Boeing Co and Bell Helicopter to provide flight test and evaluation of the V-22 test aircraft.

The deal, announced Tuesday by the U.S. Department of Defense, provides support of ongoing flight test and evaluation of the V-22 Osprey test, tiltrotor military aircraft. 

“Bell-Boeing JPO, Amarillo, Texas, is being awarded $23,325,145 for cost-plus- fixed-fee delivery order N0001918F5004 against a previously issued basic ordering agreement (N00019-17-G-0002) in support of the V-22,” the Pentagon said in a statement.

Also noted that work will be performed at Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Maryland (90 percent); and Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, Arizona (10 percent), and is expected to be completed in December 2018. 

The main advantage of the Osprey is its capability to take off and land vertically as a helicopter does, while requiring a much shorter runway than a Greyhound. For Osprey pilots, the chance to fly new aircraft that is on the frontline of expanding the Navy’s logistics mission is a point of pride.

The Osprey has already proven its capabilities in humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, amphibious assault and medical evacuation missions. Its next evolution will use those capabilities to accomplish traditional carrier onboard delivery (COD) missions.