With production of the V-22 Osprey under its present, multi-year contract nearing conclusion, and the extent of a second multi-year procurement uncertain, the Bell-Boeing industry team and its main customer, the U.S. Marine Corps, have brought the tiltrotor to Dubai for the first time ever to extol its virtues to potential Middle Eastern customers. The V-22 on show this week is operated by the Marines and Air Force Special Operations Command, is getting good exposure. Among the visitors inquiring about the aircraft Sunday was HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum, prime minister and vice president of the United Arab Emirates and ruler of Dubai, who stopped at the Osprey during his opening-day Royal Tour.
At a press conference later in the day, Bell and Boeing executives declined to identify prospects in the region, but said the Middle East holds promise for the Osprey. “If we were to handicap it, we would say the first opportunity would come from the Middle East, in terms of an international customer,” said John Garrison, Bell Helicopter president and CEO.
