On the recordJuly 10, 2001
As you know, Senator Stevens, the V-22 Osprey is the Marine Corps' number one aviation priority. It will revolutionize combat assault in a manner not seen since the introduction of the helicopter more than 50 years ago. The V-22 Osprey is the only vertical lift assault weapon aircraft that provides the combination of range, speed, and payload, which fulfills the Marine Corps' medium lift requirement. The Osprey met or exceeded all Marine Corps' key performance requirements. . . . It carries three times as much, five times as far, twice as fast as the Vietnam era CH-46 Sea Knight it is replacing. The V-22 Osprey is a key enabler, allowing Marine expeditionary forces to rapidly respond to unpredictable, unstable situations throughout the world.
Source
govinfo.gov
