Sale of six V-22s to Israel confirmed

The US Department of Defense has confirmed that the Israeli Air Force is to buy six V-22 Osprey tiltrotor aircraft. During a press conference In April, Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel announced the US’s intention to sell a number of Ospreys for use by Israeli special forces – potential mission profiles are likely to include combat search and rescue and medical evacuation.

During a speech in New York, Hagel has now confirmed that Israel ‘will get six V-22s out of the next order to go on the assembly line’. He added: “The Israeli and American defence relationship is stronger than ever.”