The Pentagon’s top Operational Test and Evaluation official, David Duma, told Congress Tuesday that the V-22 tilt-rotor aircraft is effective, reliable, and capable of conducting missions. He expects the Defense Acquisition Board to give the green light this week for full-rate production. Textron and Boeing Co. would build at least 458 aircraft for the Marines, Air Force, and Navy. In his report, Duma noted that the problems with software and hydraulic lines that contributed to a series of crashes in 2000 have been fixed. He also said the Osprey needed only 7.2 hours of maintenance for every hour flown in more than 750 hours of combat testing this year.
The U.S. thwarted a drone attack on U.S. forces at Al Asad air base in western Iraq on April 22, marking the first time that American troops have been targeted since February, U.S. officials said. “We can confirm it was an attack on Al Asad,” a defense official told Air & Space…