Jerry Moran: “I can understand why our colleagues from Illinois have offered this amendment. Assertions recently surfaced about the…”

“I can understand why our colleagues from Illinois have offered this amendment. Assertions recently surfaced about the inability of the Osprey to operate in hot conditions, high altitudes or from U.S. Navy ships. But the fact is that these charges have been disproven repeatedly in daily operations. The fact is that the Osprey provides unparalleled flexibility for Marines and Air Force Special Forces in combat operations. We have had 14 fully successful deployments to date. No aircraft in the U.S. inventory has been subjected to as extensive a series of live-fire testing as the V-22. It is the most survivable rotorcraft ever built for the Marine Corps and Air Force. When the enemy has been able to hit the V-22, the aircraft has absorbed the damage and returned to base without injuries to passengers or crew on every single occasion. Many of the initial readiness challenges stem from deploying the aircraft into combat before a supply chain and depot maintenance infrastructure was adequately in place. The reason it cost more was that the Special Forces felt they needed to bring it into combat operation immediately because it was such a successful rotorcraft. They needed it for the safety and effectiveness of our troops. The fact is that major studies from both government and industry have shown that the V-22 is more operationally effective and cost efficient than any helicopter alternative.”