Israel could double V-22 order

Israel could double the size of a potential order and buy 12 V-22 Osprey and form part of a plan to preserve production of the tiltrotor aircraft for several more years.
The US Department of Defense notified Congress on 14 January that Israel had requested a potential sale of six V-22s.
But the Israeli government has requested information from the manufacturer for an order of twice that amount, according Bell.
The possibility of extending the Israeli deal could prove critical for Bell Helicopter’s ongoing efforts to preserve V-22 sales well beyond 2015.
The initial six aircraft expected to be ordered by Israel are not additional orders. They will instead be taken from six orders currently assigned to the US Marine Corps.
A second multiyear contract signed last year includes orders for 99 more V-22s and 23 options. One option has already been exercised to replace an aircraft.
Moreover, Japan has budgeted to buy 17 V-22s in a long-term spending plan released last month.
Longer-term, the Navy also is still looking for a replacement for the C-2 Greyhound. The service originally committed to buy 48 HV-22s, but a contract hasn't been signed. But one of the deficiencies of the V-22 for naval service has been an inability to carry the container that transports the Pratt & Whitney F135-PW-600 engine for the Lockheed Martin F-35B.
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