Israel to Acquire Six V-22s
US Secretary of Defense Hagel announces that Israel will acquire six V-22 Osprey aircraft produced by Boeing and Textron, marking the first global sale of the aircraft
Michael Kadichevski
| 22/02/2015
US Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel has announced that Israel will acquire six of the V-22 Osprey tilt-rotor aircraft from the US.
Speaking at an event organized by the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) on Thursday, Hagel said that the US has been working with Israel to provide six new V-22 Ospreys to the country. "The US Marine Corps has been directed to ensure that the V-22 order is expedited so that Israel will be able to get six aircraft from the next order heading to the assembly line," Hagel said.
He added that "the aircraft will be compatible with other IDF capabilities, and will improve the range and effectiveness of Israel's special forces."
The deal for the V-22 Ospreys will be the first international sale of the aircraft, which has been used to date by the US Marine Corps and the US Air Force since 2007, and Israel will become the first foreign country in the world to acquire it. The aircraft combines the abilities of both fixed wing and rotary wing aircraft categories. It always takes off and lands vertically, like a helicopter, and after switching to the “fixed wing state”, it can reach a maximum speed of 565 km/h and a maximum altitude of 25,000 feet. The aircraft is designed to carry either 24 seated soldiers, 32 standing soldiers, or a cargo of approximately six tons.
Secretary of Defense Hagel announced earlier this year that the IDF would be the first country to have the V-22 besides the US, though no additional details were provided at the time. As was previously reported by IsraelDefense, defense officials had estimated in recent months that several V-22 aircraft will be acquired by the Israeli Air Force by the end of 2014, based on negotiations with aircraft manufacturer Boeing and the US Air Force.
US Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel has announced that Israel will acquire six of the V-22 Osprey tilt-rotor aircraft from the US.
Speaking at an event organized by the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) on Thursday, Hagel said that the US has been working with Israel to provide six new V-22 Ospreys to the country. "The US Marine Corps has been directed to ensure that the V-22 order is expedited so that Israel will be able to get six aircraft from the next order heading to the assembly line," Hagel said.
He added that "the aircraft will be compatible with other IDF capabilities, and will improve the range and effectiveness of Israel's special forces."
The deal for the V-22 Ospreys will be the first international sale of the aircraft, which has been used to date by the US Marine Corps and the US Air Force since 2007, and Israel will become the first foreign country in the world to acquire it. The aircraft combines the abilities of both fixed wing and rotary wing aircraft categories. It always takes off and lands vertically, like a helicopter, and after switching to the “fixed wing state”, it can reach a maximum speed of 565 km/h and a maximum altitude of 25,000 feet. The aircraft is designed to carry either 24 seated soldiers, 32 standing soldiers, or a cargo of approximately six tons.
Secretary of Defense Hagel announced earlier this year that the IDF would be the first country to have the V-22 besides the US, though no additional details were provided at the time. As was previously reported by IsraelDefense, defense officials had estimated in recent months that several V-22 aircraft will be acquired by the Israeli Air Force by the end of 2014, based on negotiations with aircraft manufacturer Boeing and the US Air Force.
