Japan will purchase 17 V-22 Osprey tiltrotors
Japan has announced plans to purchase a fleet of Bell Boeing V-22
Osprey tiltrotors and has included funding for the aircraft in its 2015
defense budget.
The budget document, recently posted on the Japanese Ministry
of Defence’s website, says “source selection is underway” for
acquisition of a tiltrotor but does not specify the Osprey. Included
in the document are generic renderings of an aircraft that
resembles the V-22, which can takeoff and land like a helicopter
and fly like a plane.
of Defence’s website, says “source selection is underway” for
acquisition of a tiltrotor but does not specify the Osprey. Included
in the document are generic renderings of an aircraft that
resembles the V-22, which can takeoff and land like a helicopter
and fly like a plane.
Boeing spokeswoman Caroline Hutcheson confirmed that Japan is
buying the V-22, which it builds the aircraft in partnership with Bell
Helicopter.
buying the V-22, which it builds the aircraft in partnership with Bell
Helicopter.
"The Bell Boeing team is honored the Japanese Ministry of Defense
has selected the V-22 Osprey to support its operational requirements,
and we’ll continue to work with the U.S. government on the foreign
military sale."
has selected the V-22 Osprey to support its operational requirements,
and we’ll continue to work with the U.S. government on the foreign
military sale."
It also does not spell out how many examples Japan will buy, but
Bell Helicopter chief executive John Garrison said Japan had
already budgeted for 17 V-22s as part of a long-term spending
plan. Industry sources confirm the deal is for 17 of the type.
Bell Helicopter chief executive John Garrison said Japan had
already budgeted for 17 V-22s as part of a long-term spending
plan. Industry sources confirm the deal is for 17 of the type.
The Japan MoD website says the fleet is being formed “with a
view to enhance unit deployment capabilities in amphibious
operations”. The tiltrotors will “complement and strengthen the
capabilities of transport helicopters in terms of cruising speed and
range”, it says.
view to enhance unit deployment capabilities in amphibious
operations”. The tiltrotors will “complement and strengthen the
capabilities of transport helicopters in terms of cruising speed and
range”, it says.
The orders will be a boon to Bell Boeing, which is under pressure to
keep sales up after 2015 and could lose a deal to sell six V-22s
to Israel. Earlier in November, Israeli sources told Flightglobal that
the recent conflict in Gaza inflated demand for ground systems over
aircraft and put overall strain on budgets for large acquisition
rogrammes. The situation could lead to postponement of the deal
if it is not canceled outright, the source says.
keep sales up after 2015 and could lose a deal to sell six V-22s
to Israel. Earlier in November, Israeli sources told Flightglobal that
the recent conflict in Gaza inflated demand for ground systems over
aircraft and put overall strain on budgets for large acquisition
rogrammes. The situation could lead to postponement of the deal
if it is not canceled outright, the source says.
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