An Osprey teamed up with two U.S. Navy MH-60R Sea Hawks to deploy sonobuoys within the Philippine Sea, working from the usAmerica.
A U.S. Marine Corps MV-22 Osprey has been employed in help of Anti-Submarine Warfare drills within the Indo-Pacific. Actually, on Aug. 8, 2025, an MV-22 teamed up with two U.S. Navy MH-60R Sea Hawks and deployed sonobuoys to detect underwater acoustics for ships and submarines.
The Osprey was assigned to Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron (VMM) 265 (Rein.), deployed with the thirty first Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) aboard the amphibious assault ship USS America (LHA 6). In line with the service, this represents the primary time a forward-deployed MV-22B assigned to the thirty first MEU has operated in an ASW function throughout the Indo-Pacific theater.
The USMC has been refining the usage of the tiltrotor for this mission, and the Osprey has been used on this function in the course of the latest Atlantic Alliance 2025 train final month. On that event, MV-22B Ospreys from VMM-162 delivered A-size sonobuoys, constructing on the Osprey’s velocity, vary and elevate capability to enrich conventional ASW plane, together with the P-8A Poseidon and MH-60R Seahawk.
ASW coaching within the Pacific
As talked about earlier, VMM-265 supported an operational anti-submarine warfare (ASW) mission using the MV-22B Osprey teamed with two Navy MH-60R Sea Hawk helicopters to distribute sonobuoys on Aug. 8, 2025. It’s unclear if the train was a part of the joint maneuvers of the usAmerica alongside the George Washington Service Strike Group (CSG), the UK’s HMS Prince of Wales CSG and the Japan Maritime Self-Protection Drive (JMSDF) Kaga Process Group, held from Aug. 4 to 12 and which additionally included ASW operations.
“The Marine Corps has spent the previous 5 years re tooling to battle within the Pacific and the submarine menace can’t be ignored. The MV-22B enhances the Navy’s capabilities so nicely that it’s onerous to consider this wasn’t considered sooner” stated Colonel Niedziocha, Commanding Officer, thirty first MEU. “We’ve validated the utility of each amphibious warships and littoral forces, demonstrating the power to battle because the landward part of the fleet.”
The service additional acknowledged that the combination of the MV-22B into ASW operations expands the MEU’s potential to detect, monitor, and deter potential adversaries working within the maritime area. The brand new functionality is alleged to leverage the vary, velocity, and payload capabilities of the MV-22B by means of the deployment of superior sensors and integration with U.S. Navy capabilities, permitting for speedy response and chronic surveillance.
This growth underscores the Marine Corps’ dedication to naval integration and the availability of a flexible, quickly deployable drive able to addressing a variety of contingencies.
ASW operations within the Pacific have taken on heightened significance because the Folks’s Liberation Military Navy (PLAN) continues to increase its submarine fleet in each numbers and functionality. The Indo-Pacific is now dwelling to an more and more subtle undersea menace, with China working superior nuclear-powered and air-independent propulsion diesel-electric submarines able to prolonged patrols and stealthy operations.
These vessels are a core part of Beijing’s anti-access/space denial (A2/AD) technique, aimed toward difficult U.S. and allied naval freedom of motion. The mixing of platforms just like the MV-22B Osprey into ASW roles introduces distributed, rapid-response capabilities, extending sensor protection, permitting to shortly react to submarine detections, and sustaining persistent surveillance.
Atlantic Alliance 2025
The brand new train within the Pacific follows the latest participation of the Osprey within the ASW function to the Atlantic Alliance 2025 train, the U.S. Navy’s premier naval integration train on the East Coast held from June 28 to July 11. The Marines stated the train was constructed on experimentation throughout Fleet Battle Drawback 2024, and supported the Theater Undersea Warfare Commander (TUSWC), Commander, Submarine Group TWO (COMSUBGRU2).
COMSUBGRU2 stated this new function for the Osprey marks a deliberate effort to ascertain doctrine, refine techniques and procedures, and align Marine Corps capabilities with theater ASW operations in a contested setting. Actually, the Marines are working towards an expanded function in ASW by creating capabilities in expeditionary command and management, distributed sensing, and sensor employment.
“We’re previous the query of whether or not the Marine Corps can contribute to ASW,” stated Navy Capt. Invoice Howey, director of maritime operations for COMSUBGRU2. “Now we’re refining how they contribute after which integrating that into the fleet playbook.”
In the course of the drills, MV-22Bs from VMM-162 delivered A-size sonobuoys to help undersea capabilities within the Atlantic. The initiative builds on the Osprey’s velocity, vary and elevate capability to enrich conventional ASW plane, together with the P-8A Poseidon and MH-60R Seahawk.
“The Osprey’s distinctive capabilities as a tiltrotor plane enable it to excel throughout the framework of distributed aviation operations and expeditionary superior base operations,” stated Maj. Sean T. Penczak, government officer, VMM-162. “Its potential to cowl lengthy ranges with a payload akin to the P-8, whereas maximizing time on station for time-critical tasking, has made it extremely efficient within the anti-submarine warfare area — demonstrating its versatility and worth as rising threats proceed to evolve.”
ASW is a mission that has historically been assigned to the Navy, using devoted plane and methods on its ships. Issues at the moment are altering with a push in the direction of joint operations, with the MV-22s coaching on ASW operations and new anti-surface capabilities within the maritime area for the Air Drive.
“The Navy-Marine Corps staff is not splitting the battle above and under the floor,” stated Capt. Howey. “The undersea area is a naval drawback, and it’s being met with a naval answer.”
“Just a few years in the past, the concept of Marines flying ASW missions may need raised eyebrows,” stated Col. James C. Derrick, commanding officer, Marine Plane Group (MAG) 26. “Now we’re doing it as a part of the plan, utilizing the Osprey’s distinctive capabilities to assist allow naval maneuver.”
