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.
The Air Force’s Hypersonic Attack Cruise Missile is behind schedule and may significantly overrun its expected cost, which could partially explain why the service is reviving the hypersonic AGM-183 Air-Launched Rapid-Response Weapon.