If the Marine Corps eliminates the concerns about the Osprey, and goes on to employ it widely with success, does anyone forsee the other services aquiring them on a large scale? I know SOCOM has been mentioned.
I think a tilt rotor aircraft, maybe the Osprey or maybe something similar, would be a great platform for parachute raids. The problem I see with parachute raids now is that one of two things usually has to happen. 1) A raid force inserted by fixed wing has to sieze an airfield for extraction by fixed wing. An airfield that may or may not have been a necessary part of the objective otherwise. 2) A raid force inserted by fixed wing has to be extracted by rotor wing, adding another link to the operation, as in Kandahar.
With a tilt rotor aircraft the same aircraft that inserts the raid force can withdraw it, allowing drop zones and pickup zones away from defended airfields to be used.
I think the basic idea has merit. I'm just not sure that the Marine Corps can work the bugs out of the Osprey to the Army's satisfaction.
Thoughts? |