Japanese media reports, on November 6, the U.S.-made V22 Osprey transport aircraft equipped by the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force flew for the first time at the Kisarazu station in Chiba Prefecture.
According to reports, after the two “Osprey” transport aircraft arrived in Japan in July, the Japanese side conducted continuous inspections on them. It is reported that the aircraft will start hovering training in the station, and after the 10th of this month, the test flight range will be expanded beyond the camp. Lu Zi plans to gradually improve the level of training so that it can be deployed in the Self-Defense Forces.
The report pointed out that the “Osprey” developed as a transport aircraft for US soldiers has been experiencing frequent accidents during the development stage. There have also been accidents in Japan. In 2016, a U.S. Marine Corps “Osprey” crashed in Okinawa, Japan. According to reports, ensuring the safety of the aircraft is now an important issue.
On the 6th, the “Osprey” flew in helicopter mode. At around 10:45 in the morning, an “Osprey” slowly took off and rose vertically. After that, it kept its posture, tried forward and backward, and landed after about 10 minutes.
Outside the camp, more than 50 local people held up slogans such as “Japan’s sky does not need’Osprey'” to protest the test flight. Local resident Yoshida said: “If more’Ospreys’ are deployed here, they will fly everywhere, and the noise will ruin our lives.” Some residents also said that this kind of aircraft has a poor safety record and brings them danger.
It is reported that the “Osprey” will be used to transport the Japanese Ground Self-Defense Force’s amphibious rapid reaction force to seize islands far away from the Japanese mainland.
