I recall some hot discussion about new tactics....going where the bad guys aren't....and how the V-22 was immune from Hot LZ's....used darkness, speed, and altitude and all that to eliminate that threat.
Sas,
Nobody in earlier discussions ever believed that V-22s were "immune from Hot LZ's." In fact it was stated specifically that it was likely the event would occur as there is no one 'perfect plan' that works in all battlefield scenarios.
What was said is that mission planning for the Osprey would emphasize the strengths of the aircraft and whenever possible use the ability to 'go fast and far and land where the enemy is not.' The years that the Osprey has operated in combat since those discussions with only a few situations where they did land under heavy fire shows that the general battle plan has worked. The fact that this crew and others survived those encounters are a testament to the capabilities of the crews and the aircraft to survive the situation if encountered.
If you want to go back through the threads leading to this point looking at the accuracy of the predictions made, you will find that the negative predictions coming true will fill a 'thimble' compared to the 'book' that could be written on the positive side as the aircraft became the Marines "aircraft of choice" in Afghanistan while achieving the best safety record of aircraft operated by them in country.
And talk to the AFSOC Osprey guys and they will tell you to a man that the V-22 has opened up a whole new world of capabilities to them. But of course they just like the Marines add that there are still many mission critical areas where helicopters are much better suited for operations requiring shorter range, heavy lift, high altitude hover requirements. The trick is to get the
fleet mix right to cover all the missions as best they can. It is
NOT "one vs. the other"!!