V-22 Move

The Defense Department, in coordination with Japan’s government, is proceeding with the introduction of MV-22 Ospreys to III Marine Expeditionary Force in Japan, DOD announced in a statement released shortly after midnight. DOD today formally notified Japanese officials in Tokyo that it will replace CH-46 helicopters in Japan with MV-22s. The Ospreys will arrive at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni for unloading in late July, but they will not conduct flight operations for the time being, according to the statement.

DOD maintains that the investigations into a fatal April 11 MV-22 crash in Morocco and a separate June 13 crash of an Air Force CV-22 have so far revealed nothing that should impede the deployment of the aircraft to Japan. DOD officials held a June 22 meeting at the Pentagon with officials from the Japanese defense and foreign-affairs ministries to provide an update on preliminary conclusions related to the recent V-22 crashes.

“In recognition of the remaining concerns of the Japanese government about the safety of the aircraft, the DOD will refrain from any flight operations of the MV-22 in Japan until the results of the investigations are presented to the Japanese government and the safety of flight operations is confirmed,” the department said in the statement, adding that DOD anticipates presenting this information to the Japanese government in August.

“During this period, Japan will be the only location worldwide where the United States will suspend MV-22 flight operations,” reads the statement. MV-22s and CV-22s will continue flight operations elsewhere in the world, including over the continental United States. The Pentagon maintains the Osprey has an excellent safety record.

“Basing the Osprey in Okinawa will significantly strengthen the United States' ability to provide for the defense of Japan, perform humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations and fulfill other alliance roles," the statement adds.