U.S. Marine Corps MV-22s Land on Japanese Ships

The U.S. Marine Corps demonstrated the capability of the V-22 Osprey to operate to allied nation platforms by landing the tiltrotor on the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force helicopter destroyer JS Hyuga and dock landing ship JS Shimokita on June 14. MV-22 Ospreys performed takeoffs and landings on the ships during Dawn Blitz 2013, a multinational amphibious exercise off the coast of California. Japan and France are among nations that have expressed interest in acquiring the tiltrotor, including “more than three” nations that are holding serious discussions, U.S. Marine Col. Greg Masiello, V-22 Joint Program Office manager, told a Paris Air Show briefing on Monday. That group includes Israel, which has requested V-22s from the U.S. as part of a larger arms package.