The Marine Corps announced the first operational deployment of the controversial MV-22 Osprey will be a combat tour to western Iraq.
Marine Commandant Gen. James Conway said the New River, N.C.-based Thunder Chickens of Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 263 will deploy to al Asad air base Iraq in September.
The Corps had declined to reveal the location of its first real-world deployment of the Osprey for months; leading some to speculate the transport would be sent on a lower-profile deployment to guard against programmatic shock-waves should something go wrong.
This deployment directly supports our number one priority: Marines and sailors in contact at the tip of the spear, Conway said during a press briefing announcing the decision.
Its been a road marked by some setbacks, lots of sacrifices and the success of these Marines standing before you today, he added, with the Corps aviation chief, Lt. Gen. John Castellaw, standing at his side.
(DT staff note: Defense Tech salutes the Marine Corps on this announcement and wishes VMM-263 all the best.)
Read the rest of Christian’s report here.
{ 8 comments… read them below or add one }
hmmm..Seems like Afgan would have been a better choice there to provide a little real-world down and dirty action without all the pressures of operating in Iraq right away.
glad to see them putting them in to real world operation, they will be a good asset.
I agree, after all this time and money, it is good see if it lives up to the hype, or literaly goes down in flames.
Uh oh. I really do hope some of our worst fears are unrealized on this one… I would agree with Han that an Afgan deployment might have been the better choice due to the distances and terrain. Don’t see how this is going to work in an urban enviro well.
It seems that the US
OSPREY IRAQ-BOUND
It seems that the US
Brings up a point I hadn’t wondered about until now. How does the V22 operate in thin air conditions, like those found in the mountains of -istan? I’ve heard for along time that regular helos have some difficulty in the thin air?
stephen e hughes – I’m sure the V-22 will eventually get guns…but thats probably 5-10 years out.
mrnitropb – of course all helicopters have difficulty in thin air, but the Osprey can fly like a plane so its wings give it additional lift…making it go as high as 26,000 feet, far higher then any other vertical take-off craft can do.