Marine Corp
s Commandant Gen. James Conway told defense reporters in Washington yesterday that his “fervent desire” is to get the V-22 Osprey tilt-rotor aircraft deployed to Iraq for the war on terror as soon as possible. “I’ve been in the aircraft three times—it’s a marvelous aircraft,” he said, adding, “It’s going to revolutionize helicopter flight, and the expansions beyond that. I think it’s going to prove itself rapidly.” However, Conway said the Corps is “not ready to make that public statement” about when the V-22 can be expected to join the fight.
Boeing received a $2.47 billion Air Force contract Nov. 25 for 15 more KC-46s, bringing to 183 the number of Pegasus tankers on contract to all customers, foreign and domestic. The new contract—for Lot 12 of the initially planned KC-46 buy—is to be completed by 2029.
