Original post -

Ospreys arrive in Afghanistan

Staff report
Posted : ***Friday Nov 6, 2009*** 20:43:31 EST

Ten MV-22B Ospreys from the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit landed in Afghanistan Friday, marking yet another milestone for the aircraft.

Pilots from Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 263 (Reinforced) took off from the amphibious assault ship Bataan in waves of three, flying the nearly 600 miles to Camp Bastion, Afghanistan, in just over two hours, according to a news release.

The aircraft will be transferred to VMM-261 upon their arrival from Marine Corps Air Station New River, N.C. It is not clear if the nearly 200 North Carolina-based Marines have deployed yet.

The move means the MEU won’t have any medium-lift capability for the remainder of its deployment, which is scheduled to last until December, but spokesman Capt. Clark Carpenter said that should the need arise, the unit’s heavy-lift fleet can get the job done.

“We still retain flexibility with the lift provided by our four CH-53E Super Stallions,” Carpenter said. “For any close-air support, we still have four AH-1W Super Cobras, two UH-1N Hueys and six AV-8B Harriers.”









Updated post

Ospreys enter Afghanistan with more firepower

By Amy McCullough - Staff writer
Posted : Saturday Dec 5, 2009 8:54:59 EST

The MV-22 Osprey is in Afghanistan and ready to fight.

Ten aircraft from Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 263 arrived at Camp Bastion in November and were promptly transferred to VMM-261 out of Marine Corps Air Station New River, N.C., the first-ever Osprey squadron deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. They were flown into Helmand province from the amphibious assault ship Bataan, which along with the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit was afloat about 600 miles away in the Gulf of Oman. The trip took about two hours. Reports also state that the Osprey saw action Friday as Marines and Afghan forces began a major assault in Helmand province, one of their first — if not the first — operational uses in Afghanistan.

The Corps is quick to tout the Osprey’s impressive range and speed, but critics have long argued that the MV-22, armed only with a 7.62mm M240 machine gun pointed out its rear ramp, can’t sufficiently defend itself in a hot landing zone. That’s no longer a concern, officials say, as these birds pack significantly more firepower.

Ospreys in Afghanistan will be armed with a 7.62mm belly-mounted turret gun, known as the Interim Defense Weapon System, capable of shooting 360 degrees around the aircraft. Additionally, the ramp-mounted M240 was upgraded to a .50-cal. They’ll need that extra potency to counter threats on the ground, which range in sophistication from advanced surface-to-air defense systems to crude shoulder-fired rockets.

The Corps has only eight belly guns. Five are in Afghanistan, and three will remain stateside for training and testing. Maintainers can load and unload the 800-pound system in eight hours, though it is likely to remain on the same aircraft for the duration of the time it is in theater, said Capt. Craig Thomas, a Marine spokesman.

To operate the weapon, a Marine gunner will use a controller, similar to one used to play a video game. He’ll acquire targets using a monitor that is fed color images from a forward-looking infrared sensor mounted beneath the aircraft.

During its 19-month deployment to Iraq, which ended earlier this year, the Osprey was frequently accompanied in missions by AH-1 Cobra gunships and UH-1N Hueys, which provided fire support when necessary. Despite the addition of a belly gun, it’s unlikely the Osprey will be making many solo flights in Afghanistan, said Col. Kevin Vest, who commands Marine Aircraft Group 40, the Corps’ aviation element in Afghanistan.

“There are times when the Osprey will fly solo, just like the C-130 does, but generally no aircraft flies alone,” he said. “When we are going someplace where we perceive there is going to be a threat, I will use everything at my disposal. The AV-8B [Harriers] will provide overhead surveillance, the C-130 will be used to fuel and for command and control, and the Cobra and [new UH-1Y Huey] will provide fire support.”

The Corps considers the IDWS belly gun an interim solution. It will be closely scrutinized throughout the Osprey’s deployment and may evolve in the long run, said Col. Greg Masiello, the MV-22 program manager at Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Md.

no pics?

Huh... that was quick.



Wonder when the F-22 is going over there, if ever?

The F-22 isn't needed over there.

Are any of the Ospreys called Seahawks?  Or is the narrator on some Heavy Machinery TLC/Discovery show just an idiot?  He kept calling them Seahawks throughout the entire show last night.  It was fucking annoying because he wouldn't call it the Seahawk, he would just call it Seahawk like it was some kind of character in a children's show...





"Seahawk is on it's way to pick up the Marines"



"Seahawk is approaching the landing area"



"Seahawk is running out of fuel and desperately needs to find the C-130 tanker"








 

Granted, the 22 isn't needed there but, knowing how things work in the AF, the folks involved with them would, most likely, want in on the action, as it were.

No need to give our enemies the chance to study it's radar, sensors, and other strategic aspects.





 

Seahawk is the naval variant of the blackhawk.



 

That's what I thought.  The SH-60 right?



 

To bad they'll be on maintenance hold 90% of the time

Yes.

What's the latest on the crew served weapons?  Are they still restricted to a ramp gun?  I thought they were looking at a belly mounted 7.62 remote control.

There is squadron whose call sign is sea-hawks, but the they fly prowlers .

24 MEU is suppose to take out the first MV with belly gun, they only have a few of them so I would expect some being transferred to AFG.

KABUL  —  U.S. Marines and Afghan troops on Friday launched the first offensive since President Obama announced an American troop surge, striking against Taliban communications and supply lines in a southern insurgent stronghold, a military spokesman said.

Hundreds of troops from the 3rd Battalion, 4th Marines and the Marine reconnaissance unit Task Force Raider were dropped by helicopter and MV-22 Osprey aircraft behind Taliban lines in the northern end of the Now Zad Valley

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,579309,00.html?test=latestnews

Bump

It is a impressive aircraft with that belly gun



 

Osprey begins its combat test




   
       


BY JAY PRICE - Staff writer
   
   



 
 

I just a had a vision of one of my "kids" I "raised" sitting on his ass naked (which he was prone to do) flying around smoking fuckers with a game controller.  Jack put your goddamn flight suit on you sicko bastage!

So where's the pictures of the belly gun????

moar pix!

+1. I wonder if it looks anything like:












 

 

Col. Vest is the CO of taht aviation asset.  He was my CO in a Harrier unit.  He is a fine marine and a good man.  He saved my ass many times when he could have ended my career instead.  He will use the 22 as offensively as he can.  He knows his stuff.

IIRC that is the system BAE is developing and testing for the aircraft.  I do not think its the same one referenced in the article.



 

I believe SeaHawks are Navy/Marine BlackHawks. But there may a squadron called SeaHawks.

Is it the BAE system they are using...didn't we have a member here who was testing a humvee mounted version prior to MV22 use?

I like the aircraft alot, but I am concerned that one will get shot up or shot down and everyone will shit a brick and say see it's not viable in a hostle environment.

IDWS /= RGS?








I could be wrong.