V-22s Scouting for Marines in Iraq

U.S. Marine Corps MV-22s in Iraq in the last couple of weeks have begun flying aerial scout missions in support of raids in Al Anbar province. That’s according to the Marine commandant, Gen. James Conway, who met with reporters at the Pentagon yesterday. While raids have become less frequent, he said, the Ospreys are demonstrating one of their advantages. "The 22 is very quiet," Conway said. "It's an added advantage when it comes to getting troops on the ground without hearing a helicopter coming from a couple miles out."  He said the Bell Helicopter/Boeing aircraft of Marine Medium Tilt-Rotor Sqdn. 263 (VMM-263) have maintenance rates "about where we would want them to be." The Osprey's mission profile "is precisely that of the aircraft it's replacing"--the Boeing CH-46E and the Sikorsky Aircraft CH-53D. "They're doing everything those airplanes do, except they're doing it three times faster."  For related news