Breaking news
Two USMC V-22 Osprey Aircraft Refueled Aboard French Navy LHD Tonnerre.
| 2016
|
|||
a | |||
Naval Forces News - France, USA |
|||
Two
USMC V-22 Osprey Aircraft Refueled Aboard French Navy LHD Tonnerre |
|||
The
French Navy (Marine Nationale) announced that two US Marine Corps V-22
Osprey tilt-rotor aircraft conducted a series of "touch and go"
and refuelling aboard Mistral
class LHD Tonnerre on March 19 2016. While V-22s have
been tested with the Mistral class several times to date (they were
even officially qualified with the Mistral class last year) it is the
first time that a back-to-back refuelling of two Ospreys (with engines
running) was performed. |
|||
One of two USMC V-22 Osprey in the recent maneuvers with the Tonnerre LHD. French Navy picture. |
|||
This
joint maneuver "is a first for the Tonnerre, very few units
have this interoperability capability with this type of aircraft,"
said Captain Sudrat, commander of the LHD. "Our cooperation
with the US Navy is based on a very high level of trust, which today's
operations contribute to maintain." He added. "The Americans made the request for this test and had no anxiety in performing these delicate maneuvers with the LHD" confirmed the Lieutenant de Vaisseau (Captain) in charge of the airwing aboard Tonnerre. |
One of two USMC V-22 Osprey in the recent maneuvers with the Tonnerre LHD. French Navy picture. |
|||
After
taking off from the Wasp-class amphibious assault ship USS Kearsarge,
in the Red Sea, the V-22s carried out the aviation maneuvers on the first
helicopter spot of Tonnerre LHD, reinforced to accommodate heavy
helicopters. In September last year, the French navy declared the V-22 Osprey fully qualified for operational missions to and from the Mistral class. Similar qualifications are expected to take place on board aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle. Navy Recognition reported earlier this year that the French Navy may be interested in the V-22 Osprey for a carrier onboard delivery role. |
|||