Japan has purchased five V-22 Ospreys from Bell Helicopter and may buy up to 12 more.
The company announced the $332.5 million contract Tuesday. If Japan decides to buy 17 tilt-rotor aircraft, then the deal could be worth roughly $3 billion.
“The Bell Boeing team is honored to have Japan as the first international customer for the V-22 tilt-rotor,” Mitch Snyder, executive vice president of military business for Bell Helicopter, said in a statement, Fort Worth Star-Telegram reported Tuesday. “The distinct performance envelope of the V-22 will provide Japan with an ideal solution when the need arises.”
Many of the parts that will wind up in the aircraft will be made in the Fort Worth area and assembled in Amarillo, the Texas newspaper reported.
V-22 Ospreys are also used by the Marine Corps and the Air Force Special Operations Command.
• Douglas Ernst can be reached at dernst@washingtontimes.com.
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