The Americans Are Coming! MV-22 Osprey Makes First Landing On British Carrier

Marines, UK Forces Prepare For Joint Exercise Off Eastern US

Ahead of a US-led Joint Task Force Exercise (JTFX) on the Eastern seaboard of the United States, the HMS Illustrious welcomed the very first embarkation of a US Marine Corps Bell/Boeing MV-22 Osprey onto the Royal Navy aircraft carrier Wednesday. It is the first time an Osprey has landed on a non-US vessel.

Representatives with the UK's Ministry of Defense tell ANN the Osprey, with its vertical takeoff and landing capability, is ideally suited to working from the deck of HMS Illustrious which is currently the UK's high-readiness strike carrier.

With US Marine Corps Major Frank Conway piloting the aircraft, the visit gave the Osprey’s crew a unique opportunity to demonstrate the aircraft’s flexibility as well as the versatility of the UK’s primary Maritime Strike capability.

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