Japan announces basing plan for Ospreys
Kosuke Takahashi, Tokyo - IHS Jane's Navy International
20 July 2014
Tokyo plans to deploy 17 Bell-Boeing MV-22 Osprey tiltrotor aircraft at Saga Airport on Kyushu island during the next five years starting from fiscal year 2015, according to Japanese Defence Minister Itsunori Onodera.
Onodera's first public disclosure of the expected deployment site for the Ground Self-Defense Force (GSDF)-operated Ospreys came as the Ministry of Defence (MoD) is preparing a budget request for FY15 that includes funds to buy five MV-22s.
Onodera said the MoD is looking into the possibility of the SDF sharing Saga Airport with civilian airlines. "Considering future maintenance and training, it will be appropriate to deploy them in one place," he told reporters on 20 July.
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