US Completes Ospreys Deployment in Okinawa

The US Marine Corps completed the deployment of 12 Osprey transport aircraft in Okinawa on Saturday amid strong public opposition, NHK TV reported. Three tilt rotor Ospreys arrived at the US Futenma Air Station hours after leaving a US air base in Iwakuni, Yamaguchi Prefecture.

As nine Ospreys flew to Futenma on Monday and Tuesday, the US Marines now have all of their planned 12 aircraft deployed in Okinawa. Full-scale operation of the aircraft is expected to begin later this month.

Osprey flights will be limited to a minimum ceiling of 500 feet (150 meters) and they will not be allowed over populated areas. Up to 24 aircraft will be based at Futenma by 2014.