Between relief efforts in the Philippines and the Dubai Air Show, the V-22 Osprey is gaining interest from the international community.
The Marine Corps showcased the Boeing [BA] and Bell Helicopter–a unit of Textron [TXT]–multi-purpose tilt-rotor last week in Dubai. Given the effects of budget cuts on American procurement, Textron President and CEO John Garrison told Reuters he was “encouraged” by the international interest.
“In this age of sequestration, and from a policy standpoint, international sales of our defense articles are important, both for U.S. military and the defense industry,” he said.
In June, the Marine Corps, the Osprey’s main customer, disclosed what countries were receiving information on the aircraft in advance of potential sales. They include Australia, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, France, India, Italy, Japan, Libya, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, the United Arab Emirates and the United Kingdom. Israel is in final negotiations to become the V-22’s first foreign buyer. (Defense Daily, Jun. 18, 2013)
The unique aircraft, which can land and lift vertically like a helicopter but fly like a turboprop plane, has also received accolades for its performance in the Philippines. The Pentagon said 14 Ospreys are currently contributing to delivering food, water, clothing and medicine following Typhoon Haiyan. The Ospreys are flying between aircraft carrier USS George Washington and areas devastated by the storm.
Capt. Robert Swartz, an Osprey pilot the 3rd Marine Expeditionary Brigade, said the Osprey was providing relief where airports were too damaged to allow traditional plane landings.
“All we need is enough space like a soccer field, so there are definitely a number of those zones for us to reach the people,” he said.
The Osprey’s presence has even given novice sailors an opportunity to work with the craft.
“This is the first time in my 10-year career that I have been able to fuel [an Osprey],” said Aviation Boatswain’s Mate 1st Class Joshua Hinck in a Navy press release. “This was a rare event that allowed me to teach my junior Sailors most can only read about [sic].”