Defense Tech: Osprey Iraq-bound


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Edited by Christian Lowe \| Contact

Osprey Iraq-bound

V22 fastrope .jpg

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.

“It’s 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.

Comments

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.

Posted by: murc at April 15, 2007 11:56 PM

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?

Posted by: mrnitropb at April 15, 2007 05:57 PM

OSPREY IRAQ-BOUND
It seems that the US –Military industry complex is only there to make money not weapons,
Remember the promised ADA Sgt York system , which went down in flames, the advanced artillery system crusader a 72 ton, cant take it any where , down in flames, and etc.
I am afraid because the V-22 was NOT sent to Afghanistan, is that it still has short comings ,
The ground forces need better support especially in Afghanistan, a heavy lift all weather transport system is needed, these chair born, seat shiners need to do something other than drink coffee..

1). Metal storm weapons system for attack Helios and A-10, defiantly a weapon for Afghanistan,
2) This BS about not want to co-develop with is the trophy armor protection system, so they can make their own, just to make money is criminal, it take them ten years or so field THEIR version, troops are dieing NOW< not ten years from now

But the V-22 is needed as a weapons platform, an update specter gunship, with its lift and speed capability

Posted by: stephen e hughes at April 15, 2007 05:44 AM

It seems that the US –Military industry complex is only there to make money not weapons,
Remember the promised ADA Sgt York system , which went down in flames, the advanced artillery system crusader a 72 ton, cant take it any where , down in flames, and etc.
I am afraid because the V-22 was NOT sent to Afghanistan, is that it still has short comings ,
The ground forces need better support especially in Afghanistan, a heavy lift all weather transport system is needed, these chair born, seat shiners need to do something other than drink coffee..

At any rate the V-22 should have a weapons version, like the specter gunship, with its lift and speed,

Posted by: stephen e hughes at April 15, 2007 05:41 AM

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.

Posted by: Grandjester at April 14, 2007 04:43 PM

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.

Posted by: BT at April 14, 2007 03:39 PM

glad to see them putting them in to real world operation, they will be a good asset.

Posted by: murc at April 14, 2007 02:49 PM

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.

Posted by: Han Solo at April 14, 2007 08:46 AM

Osprey Iraq-bound

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