Japan gives final approval for Osprey deployment

It was just a matter of time anyway. Despite despite fierce opposition over noise and safety and after a protracted approval process, Japan has approved a controversial deployment of the V-22 Osprey to Okinawa.

A U.S.-Japan working committee struck an agreement calling for the Marine Corps to avoid low-altitude flying and to conduct most conversions of the MV-22 from helicopter to airplane mode within airspace over military bases. The Ospreys will replace the CH-46 Sea Knights, with the Dragons of Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 265 (HMM-265) now re-designated as Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 265 (VMM-265).