MV-22 Ospreys takeoff during the Marine Rotational Force-Darwin trans-Pacific flight, Cassidy International Airport, Kiribati. Credit: US Marine Corps / 1st Lt Colin Kennard / Released.

The US Marine Corps (USMC) has conducted a trans-Pacific flight in four MV-22 Ospreys from Darwin, Australia, to Hawaii.

The aircraft from Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 363 Reinforced were flown by US Marines with Marine Rotational Force-Darwin (MRF-D) to their home station on Marine Corps Base Hawaii on 19 September.

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This is the fourth trans-Pacific flight for the MV-22 Osprey aircraft.

Two KC-130J Hercules from Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron 152 accompanied the Ospreys during the flight.

Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 363, Reinforced operations officer US Marine major Kyle Ladwig said: “Being able to fly our aircraft from Australia to Hawaii is a great example of the flexibility and options that the Ospreys create for a commander.”

The flight was intended to improve upon the Osprey trans-Pacific concept.

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Ladwig noted that the flight showcased the capability of the aircraft.

The KC-130J Hercules supported the flight by conducting air-to-air refuelling to help increase the range of the Osprey aircraft.

Trans-Pacific mission KC-130J strategic area refuelling commander US Marine captain Anthony Walters said: “We are responsible for managing the fuel state of all aircraft in their flight during tactical ferries of assets from location to another with minimal or no viable diverts.

“On this trip, we pioneered a southerly island-hopping route with plentiful diverts to safely employ the MV-22s to or from MRF-D and Hawaii.”

The MV-22s are part of the MRF-D aviation combat element. The four aircraft were deployed in Australia for the past six months supporting training exercises.

MV-22 is the variant meant for the USMC while the CV-22 variant serves the US Air Force.