Japan to acquire Bell Boeing V-22 Osprey

U.S. State Department has approved a possible Foreign Military Sale of V-22B Block C Osprey tiltrotor aircraft and associated equipment, par...

U.S. State Department has approved a possible Foreign Military Sale of V-22B Block C Osprey tiltrotor aircraft and associated equipment, parts and logistical support to Japan for an estimated cost of $3 billion.

Japan has requested 17 V-22B Block C Osprey aircraft along with 40 AE1107C Rolls Royce engines and other equipments. The sale now has to get approval from U.S. Congress before moving to contract negotiations.

The Osprey with its tiltrotor capability, will greatly enhance the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force’s humanitarian and disaster relief capabilities and support its amphibious capability upgrade modelled on U.S. Marine Corps.

The Osprey can be operated from the Izumo class (DDH-183) 24,000-ton helicopter carrier which was commissioned into fleet of Japan’s Maritime Self Defense Force (JMSDF) in March 2015.

The tiltrotor enable the V-22 Osprey to land and take off like an helicopter with its rotors tilted 90 like a helicopter and cruise like a turboprop with its rotor rotating forward.