Iwakuni Mayor Yoshihiko Fukuda mentioned Tuesday that his metropolis will enable the deployment of the U.S. Navy’s CMV-22 Osprey transport plane to U.S. Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni.
Fukuda advised a gathering of the municipal meeting in Yamaguchi Prefecture that town judged that the deployment of the tilt-rotor airplane wouldn’t have a big affect on the lives of individuals dwelling close to the bottom. It’s the first stationing of the naval model of the Osprey in Japan.
The deployment, introduced by U.S. Forces Japan in July as an improve of the present transport plane, is anticipated to start later this yr. The U.S. navy can even station the F-35C Lightning II, the most recent carrier-based stealth fighter, on the Iwakuni base.
Fukuda advised reporters he plans to keep watch over the operations of the Osprey to see whether or not its deployment impacts residents’ lives.
The Yamaguchi prefectural authorities will give its opinion on the deployment after consulting with the cities of Waki and Suooshima close to the bottom.
Protection Minister Minoru Kihara mentioned at a information convention in Tokyo that the deployment represents the “unshakable dedication” of america to the deterrence and response capabilities of the Japan-U.S. alliance. He expressed his appreciation of Fukuda’s approval of the plan.
The U.S. Marine Corps and Air Power at present deploy their very own Osprey at Futenma Air Station in Ginowan, Okinawa Prefecture, and Yokota Air Base in Tokyo, respectively.
The U.S. navy step by step resumed operation of all Osprey fashions after they had been grounded around the globe after a CV-22 Osprey crashed off the island of Yakushima, Kagoshima Prefecture in November, killing all eight crew members.
