The first V-22 was rolled out with significant media attention in May 1988. Full-scale development of the V-22 tilt-rotor aircraft began in 1986. The USMC variant of the Osprey received the MV-22 designation and the Air Force variant received CV-22 reversed from normal procedure to prevent Marine Ospreys from having a conflicting designation with aircraft carriers (CV). Boeing Helicopters manufactures and integrates the fuselage, cockpit, avionics, and flight controls. Bell Helicopter manufactures and integrates the wing, nacelles, rotors, drive system, tail surfaces, and aft ramp, as well as integrates the Rolls-Royce engines and performs final assembly. Work has been split evenly between Bell and Boeing.
The JVX aircraft was designated V-22 Osprey on 15 January 1985 by that March the first six prototypes were being produced, and Boeing Vertol was expanded to deal with the project workload. On Apthe Bell/Boeing team received a preliminary design contract. The only proposal was made by the Bell/Boeing team for an enlarged version of the Bell XV-15 on February 17, 1983. In December 1982 the D.o.D requested proposals from multiple companies for the JVX. At first the US Army was leading the project but in 1983 the USN and USMC were given leadership. The JVX combined requirements from the Marine Corps, Air Force, Army and Navy. 1.2 Flight Testing and Further DevelopementÄevelopment for V-22 began when in 1981 the D.o.D began the Joint-service Vertical take-off/landing Experimental (JVX) aircraft program.