V-22 Briefing

The Defense Department will brief Japanese defense officials tomorrow on the status of investigations concerning recent V-22 Osprey crashes, Pentagon Press Secretary George Little told reporters today. Assistant Secretary of Defense for Asian and Pacific Security Affairs Mark Lippert will participate in the briefing, Little said.

The Marine Corps' plans to base MV-22 Ospreys in Japan are facing potential delays amid increasing concern there about the safety of the aircraft. An Air Force CV-22 Osprey crashed June 13 during a routine training mission at Hurlburt Field's Eglin Range, north of Navarre, FL. InsideDefense.com reported last night that the Air Force has removed the commander of the 8th Special Operations Squadron, citing a lack of confidence in his leadership following that crash. The Marine Corps, meanwhile, has been investigating a fatal MV-22 Osprey crash in Morocco on April 11.