The Israeli air force (IAF) will increase the pressure on the country's ministry of defence to fund the purchase of Bell-
Boeing V-22 tilt rotors, following a positive evaluation of the aircraft.
A delegation from the IAF, including pilots and technical experts, recently visited US Marine Corps sites in the United States, to inspect the USMC's MV-22B Ospreys.
Israeli sources said that feedback from the IAF was overwhelmingly positive.
The IAF now wants to include an initial order for "limited" numbers of the V-22 in the multi-year spending plan being prepared by the Israeli Defence Force.
That wish may not be granted, however, but as a contingency the IAF may use reserve budgets to fund the purchase.
Scott Donnelly, chief executive of Bell parent company Textron, recently suggested that up to 12 countries, including Israel, would end up purchasing the Osprey.