The US Navy has awarded a $10.6m contract to Bell Helicopter and Boeing Rotorcraft Systems to perform work on the defensive weapons systems on the V-22 Osprey helicopter.

V-22 Osprey is a multi-mission, tiltrotor aircraft with both a vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) and short takeoff and landing (STOL) capabilities. It can undergo missions with the long-range, high-speed cruise performance of a turboprop aircraft.

Under the contract, Boeing will conduct on the fuselage and all subsystems as well as digital avionics and flight-control systems for the aircraft. Bell will be responsible for the wing, transmissions, rotor systems and engine installation.

Work will be carried out in Pennsylvania and New York and is expected to be completed by March 2012.