Requests Price For The Aircraft From The U.S. Navy's International Programs Office

Israel's Defense Ministry has issued a price request to the U.S. Navy's International Programs Office related to the possible acquisition of V-22 Osprey tilt-rotor aircraft.

The Jerusalem Post reports that IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Aviv Kochavi has determined that the country has an operational need for 12-14 of the aircraft.

Israel first explored a purchase of the Osprey in 2012. In 2014, the U.S. Department of Defense notified Congress that it intended to sell six V-22s to the U.S. ally in a deal valued at $1.13 billion. But when the coalition government in Israel collapsed, so did the potential sale.

Now, with another election completed, the potential sale is off the back burner, according to Rick Lemaster, Boeing’s Vertical-Lift Global Sales and Marketing.

Lemaster said that any prospective buyer needs to place orders with the company by September, 2020 to be included in the current V-22 production run.

The Jerusalem Post reports that the IDF is modernizing its fleet of older fighter jets and helicopters, and understands the need for both heavy-lift helicopters and V-22s.

(Image from file)

FMI: Source report