Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Israel requests six-aircraft V-22 purchase
Flight International ^ | 01/15/2013 | ARIE EGOZI

Posted on 01/15/2014 6:47:45 AM PST by sukhoi-30mki

Israel is advancing with its plans to field the Bell Boeing V-22 tiltrotor transport, with its acquisition of a six-strong fleet to be worth more than $1 billion.

New details of the planned purchase were disclosed by the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) on 13 January, in a notification to Congress.

The government of Israel's request includes six aircraft in a "V-22B Block C" configuration, with these to be optimised for search and rescue and special operations duties, the DSCA says. Also counting related aircraft equipment, support services and personnel training, "the estimated cost is $1.13 billion", it adds.

"The proposed sale of V-22B aircraft will enhance and increase the Israel Defense Forces' search and rescue and special operations capabilities. The V-22B provides the capability to move personnel and equipment to areas not accessible to fixed-wing lift assets," the DSCA notes.

Israel began evaluating the V-22 in 2011, with some of its air force personnel having flown the aircraft from US Marine Corps facilities as part of the process. A final report produced following this work recommended that the service acquire "a number" of the aircraft to meet special operations requirements.


TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; Israel; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: aerospace; chuckhagel; israel; v22

1 posted on 01/15/2014 6:47:45 AM PST by sukhoi-30mki
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: sukhoi-30mki

Doesn’t seem like the most practical use of money.


2 posted on 01/15/2014 6:52:20 AM PST by Blackyce (French President Jacques Chirac: "As far as I'm concerned, war alwaysmeans failure.")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Blackyce
Doesn’t seem like the most practical use of money.

"Government" and "practical use of money" do not belong in the same sentence.

3 posted on 01/15/2014 7:04:27 AM PST by Bloody Sam Roberts ("The further a society drifts from truth the more it will hate those who speak it." - George Orwell)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: sukhoi-30mki

About the right strike package size (with air cover) if you wanted to go hands on at an unfriendly nuclear facility? :)


4 posted on 01/15/2014 7:09:06 AM PST by Daus
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: sukhoi-30mki

Israel will need these, and all weapons, for the coming 2014 - 2015 war. The US will abandon her then.


5 posted on 01/15/2014 7:49:14 AM PST by SkyPilot
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Daus

“About the right strike package size (with air cover) if you wanted to go hands on at an unfriendly nuclear facility? :)”

Well, it’s real close. It’s about 1,000 miles between Jerusalem and Tehran. I read on wikipedia that the “ferry range” of the Osprey is 2,230 miles with auxiliary tanks. So, guess it could theoretically make a round trip.I don’t know what ferry range means or how much cargo capacity is diminished by auxiliary tanks. But, I’m pretty sure that once the Israelis get their hands on these birds they’ll start reconfiguring and improving them asap to meet their needs.


6 posted on 01/15/2014 7:57:20 AM PST by snoringbear (E.oGovernment is the Pimp,)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: snoringbear
Well, it’s real close. It’s about 1,000 miles between Jerusalem and Tehran.

What a coincidence with the OP the Marines just ran with the V-22's.

Marine infantry officer students conduct 1,100-mile raid with MV-22 Ospreys
7 posted on 01/15/2014 8:01:57 AM PST by Daus
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: snoringbear

Ferry range is “stripped down, and packed with fuel” for a one-way flight (as opposed to round-trip). In the case of the V-22 that might mean an internal fuel bladder in the cargo bay as well as external tanks.

Probably not enough remaining capacity for troops & equipment, though.


8 posted on 01/15/2014 8:06:45 AM PST by Tallguy
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: Tallguy

They have their own 707-ish refueling aircraft of which the total number is a mystery built under the code name project green salad. V22’s can be refueled in the air, what am I missing about this being a win-win....


9 posted on 01/15/2014 8:37:46 AM PST by taildragger (The E-GOP won't know what hit them, The Party of Reagan is almost here, hang tight folks....)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: taildragger

Do you think that the Israelis would push an aerial refueling operation into hostile airspace? Kind of gives the game away if you’re attempting a deep troop insertion unless they can use a 3rd country’s airspace...

I heard that they might have a jet tanker, too. But I think that they also have KC-130’s. Might be a better match for the VC-22.


10 posted on 01/15/2014 9:05:11 AM PST by Tallguy
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies]

To: Tallguy

The Navy is already looking at making the VC22 a refueler itself.


11 posted on 01/15/2014 6:42:53 PM PST by Daus
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 10 | View Replies]

To: snoringbear

>>>>Well, it’s real close. It’s about 1,000 miles between Jerusalem and Tehran. I read on wikipedia that the “ferry range” of the Osprey is 2,230 miles with auxiliary tanks. So, guess it could theoretically make a round trip.I don’t know what ferry range means or how much cargo capacity is diminished by auxiliary tanks. But, I’m pretty sure that once the Israelis get their hands on these birds they’ll start reconfiguring and improving them asap to meet their needs.<<<<

Unfortunately, Iran is not a banana republic. A fleet of 6 Ospreys won’t make it anyway.


12 posted on 01/16/2014 11:25:01 PM PST by cunning_fish
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: cunning_fish

“Unfortunately, Iran is not a banana republic. A fleet of 6 Ospreys won’t make it anyway.”

Well, I don’t know if they would or not. But, I think should Israelis want to insert boots on the ground in Iran they would have a higher probability of success by utilizing C-130’s, maybe land on remote roads near the objective. But, I’m confident that the Israelis have some very smart people working on all sorts of contingencies for this sort of action....


13 posted on 01/17/2014 3:20:16 AM PST by snoringbear (E.oGovernment is the Pimp,)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 12 | View Replies]

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson