US, Japan ink deal for first batch of V-22 tiltrotor planes

Japan has agreed to spend $332.5 million to buy an initial five V-22 tiltrotor planes built by Boeing Co and Bell Helicopter, finalizing the first international sale of the “Osprey” aircraft, the Pentagon announced on Tuesday.

It was the first tranche of 17 V-22s and 40 engines built by Britain’s Rolls Royce Holdings Plc that Japan plans to buy in coming years for a total value of about $3 billion, according to a May congressional notification by the Pentagon’s Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA).

At the time, DSCA said the proposed sale will help Japan modernize its transport fleet and enhance its ability to carry out humanitarian and disaster relief missions, and support amphibious operations.

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