[News Terms] Osprey Flight Suspended in Japan Due to Crash Accident

The 'Osprey (V-22)' is a U.S. transport aircraft featuring a tiltrotor design that allows the direction of its rotors to be changed. It was developed through a collaboration between Bell, Boeing, and Rolls-Royce to enable traditional helicopter missions and relatively long operational ranges at higher speeds. It is an all-weather transport aircraft capable of both Short TakeOff and Landing (STOL) and Vertical TakeOff and Landing (VTOL).

The aircraft is designated 'V-22' and commonly nicknamed 'Osprey' after the bird of prey. Development began in response to the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps' need to overcome the slow speed of transport helicopters and the inability of large transport aircraft requiring runways to land on aircraft carriers.

Osprey (V-22) Deployed in Active Service with the U.S. Marine Corps.
Photo by Asia Economy DB

Before the 1980 U.S. military hostage rescue operation at the Iranian embassy even began, a tragic accident occurred when a CH-53 helicopter collided with a C-130 transport aircraft, resulting in eight fatalities. This underscored the urgent need for a transport aircraft that could replace helicopters, accelerating development. The prototype was built in 1988, and after a successful first flight in March 1989, it was named the 'V-22 Osprey.'

Although development was temporarily halted due to frequent crashes, after numerous trials and errors, it was officially introduced to the U.S. military in June 2007, and mass production commenced. Japan confirmed its acquisition in 2014 and imported its first units to the Ground Self-Defense Force in December 2018. By 2021, a total of 17 units had been procured. At the time of Japan's acquisition, protests against the Osprey's safety were held across the country.

The Osprey's engines can rotate 90 degrees vertically. The engines tilt upward for helicopter-like takeoff, then rotate forward for airplane-like flight after takeoff. Upon reaching the target location, the engines tilt upward again for helicopter-like landing.

The U.S. military's vertical takeoff and landing aircraft, the Osprey, is the best vertical takeoff and landing transport aircraft, but it is also called the "Widow Maker" due to frequent crash accidents.
[Photo by EPA Yonhap News]

The operational radius of the U.S. military's CH-46 helicopter is 296 km, but the Osprey (MV-22) has an operational radius of 722 km and a range of 1,627 km. Its fuselage length is 17.5 m, rotor diameter is 11.6 m, maximum takeoff weight is 27.4 tons, cruising speed is 446 km/h, and maximum speed is 565 km/h. It can carry 4 crew members, 24 infantry soldiers, and 10 tons of cargo.

NHK and Kyodo News reported on the 30th that the Japanese government requested the United States to temporarily suspend the operation of the U.S. military's Osprey transport aircraft stationed in Japan following a crash on the 29th. According to the report, Defense Minister Kihara Minoru stated at the House of Councillors Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee meeting that day, "We requested the U.S. side to operate only after safety is confirmed."

The Japanese government also decided to temporarily suspend flights of the Ospreys owned by the Ground Self-Defense Force. Earlier, a U.S. military Osprey stationed in Japan crashed into the sea near Yakushima Island in Kagoshima Prefecture, southern Kyushu, the previous afternoon. The number of people on board fluctuated several times but is currently known to be eight, with one person found deceased. Japan is conducting a search operation for the second day using patrol boats and helicopters from the Japan Coast Guard.