The Japan-U.S. alliance needs the versatile Osprey

V-22 Ospreys are returning to the skies over Japan after being grounded in the wake of a tragic mishap of a U.S. Air Force variant off Yakushima Island in Kagoshima Prefecture last November, which killed eight members of the Air Force Special Operations Command.

In Japan, there has been an outsized and lingering concern about the aircraft’s safety. That concern is, frankly, misplaced, as the aircraft has a phenomenal safety record, especially in light of its unique and vital missions

Moreover, there is substantial risk if we let perception rather than facts guide conversation around the Osprey.

As China continues to modernize its armed forces at breakneck speed, it is ever more important for countries that stand for a rules-based international order, such as Japan and the United States, to work more closely together.

The more we present a unified front toward Beijing, the more effectively we can deter aggression from China’s increasingly capable navy, air force and rocket force.

A key part of presenting this united front is interoperability; the more the two nations work together hand in glove, the greater the capability. The two nations are greater than the sum of their parts.

This interoperability is found in the people who manage and live the alliance, who operate the bases and equipment, who coordinate and conduct the training, and yes, who teach the public and educate the next generation on the bilateral relationship.

With regard to equipment, a terrific example of the two nations’ interoperability is the V-22 Osprey. Three U.S. armed services — the air force, marine corps and navy — operate the aircraft. So, too, does the Japanese Self-Defense Forces, including the Ground Self-Defense Force and the Maritime Self-Defense Force on whose ships the American and Japanese Ospreys have landed. It should also be noted that in the future, their Osprey operations will certainly include other allied countries.

I admit I am (unabashedly) biased. I was intimately involved in the arrival of the U.S. Marine Corps MV-22s in 2012 and 2013. I consider this, along with my efforts during Operation Tomodachi and in improving community relations to be some of the most important work I was involved in with the Marines in Japan.

I have flown more times than I can count on the Osprey and loved it every single time. I even requested to join a night flight in order to observe the training the dedicated pilots undertake. I arranged numerous flights for Japanese officials, politicians, media and local leaders and initiated a special event in Okinawa in the early days after its arrival to personally show off the Osprey to hundreds — yes, hundreds — of local ordinary citizens and the media.

There are many reasons to be proud of the aircraft, including its low percent of mishaps. But in addition to that important fact, the Osprey’s capabilities are remarkable.

The Osprey provides vertical takeoff and landing like a helicopter but is also capable of flying at high speeds over long distances when operating as a conventional plane. In fact, the aircraft has demonstrated its ability to self-deploy over considerable distances, such as from Hawaii to Australia and from North Carolina to Spain.

This means that, unlike its predecessor, the CH-46 Sea Knight, it can deploy from Okinawa and travel long distances for training without needing to rely on ships or regional airports to refuel, thus helping to reduce the so-called burden within the prefecture.

With corrosion resistant coatings and blades that fold for shipboard storage, the Osprey is designed to successfully operate in the world’s harshest environments.

Such game-changing functionality, adaptability and advantages in air mobility mean the aircraft is in high demand by theater commanders, more so than many other aircraft.

For Japan and the United States, the Osprey presents new opportunities for both power projection and defensive operations. Its runway independence enables access to barren and unconventional landing zones in remote areas, urban corridors, island outposts and ships at sea, not to mention disaster zones. The world witnessed the usefulness of this versatile craft during the aftermath of super Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines in the fall of 2013 and will likely continue to see its utility in the future, particularly in response to earthquake and tsunami disasters in places like the Nankai Trough or other regions.

In these kinds of disaster response scenarios, the Osprey provides a significant advantage for expediting the delivery of lifesaving aid and facilitating the evacuation of survivors from remote locations beyond the reach of other aircraft. The Osprey also enables rapid medical evacuation to either shore-based or ship-based medical facilities. We have seen the Osprey perform these types of missions in many island environments, including after earthquakes in Haiti and hurricanes in Puerto Rico and the Philippines.

Military strategists are always seeking to keep their adversaries guessing for strategic and tactical advantage. The capabilities of the Osprey greatly complicate an aggressor’s calculations. Indeed, that is why the U.S. Marine Corps has established littoral combat regiments specifically for executing such missions, with the Osprey being utilized as the workhorse.

Moreover, all the capabilities of the Osprey have opened up innumerable new options for commanders of both countries in ways that complicate China’s plans.

Make no mistake: The Indo-Pacific presents an array of compounding challenges that demand such capabilities. The alliance of Japan and the United States faces a landscape rife with challenges including the unpredictable nature of North Korea, the growing assertiveness of China and the vital task of safeguarding critical sea lanes.

The alliance between Japan and the United States serves as the cornerstone of Indo-Pacific security and stability, necessitating close cooperation through joint exercises and missions. The interoperability of the two nations’ Osprey fleets, coupled with their collaborative efforts, sends a strong signal to Beijing that Tokyo and Washington are not alone in their mission to deter aggression, but rather united in their resolve.

History has shown time and again that preserving a favorable military balance and credible deterrence is essential for long-term peace and stability. The V-22 Osprey is a tangible symbol of the two nations’ dedication to maintaining a free, open and secure Indo-Pacific.