On 23 September, a two CV-22 Osprey tiltrotor aircraft, assigned to the 352d Special Operations Wing, conducted a low-altitude flight over Kyiv, Ukraine.
For the first time, U.S. Air Force tiltrotor aircraft have flown over Kyiv as part of the exercise Fiction Urchin.
The 352 Special Operations Wing was deployed to Ukraine for exercise Fiction Urchin to demonstrate commitment to the Black Sea region, support the Ukraine SOF capability and increase interoperability through various training engagements.
U.S. Army Special Forces operators and Ukraine Special Operations Forces (SOF) operators conducted missions that were included aerial refueling from MC-130J, fast rope insertion and extraction system training.
The CV-22 is a modified version of the Marine Corps MV-22 aircraft.
This versatile, self-deployable aircraft offers increased speed and range over other rotary-wing aircraft, enabling Air Force Special Operations Command aircrews to execute long-range special operations missions.
The CV-22 can perform missions that normally would require both fixed-wing and rotary-wing aircraft. The CV-22 takes off vertically and, once airborne, the nacelles (engine and prop-rotor group) on each wing can rotate into a forward position.