Israeli Buy a Boost For Osprey Production Line 23 Apr 2013 Richard Sisk
http://www.dodbuzz.com/2013/04/23/is...oduction-line/
"The surprise announcement that Israel was acquiring the tilt-rotor MV-22 Osprey for its special forces has led other countries to take a second look at buying the aircraft that has greater range and speed than conventional helicopters.
“I can tell you that
several countries are very, very interested” in the Osprey, said William Schroeder, a spokesman for Bell Boeing of Fort Worth, Tex.
Schroeder declined to name the interested countries, but the United Arab Emirates has been haggling with Bell Boeing for more than a year on unit prices, and
Britain and Canada
have also inquired about the Ospreys....
...The Osprey would fit into Gantz’ announced design to create a joint special operations force for Israel, similar to the U.S. Joint Special Operations Command. The MV-22s, with their in-flight refueling capacities, would be used for long-range commando raids against emerging threats in the region.
It was unclear whether Gantz was interested in the MV-22 standard Osprey used by the Marines, or the
CV-22 used by Air Force special forces, which is fitted with extra wing fuel tanks and an AN/APQ-186 terrain-following radar...."