SAPPORO (Kyodo) -- A controversial U.S. military Osprey aircraft took part Friday in a joint exercise between the Japanese Ground Self-Defense Force and the U.S. Marine Corps on Japan's northernmost main island of Hokkaido.
The MV-22 tilt-rotor transport aircraft joined the exercise despite local opposition, after the central government withdrew an earlier request to the United States to stop flying the plane for a period of time following a fatal crash of an Osprey off Australia.
The accident record of Ospreys, which take off and land like helicopters but cruise like airplanes, has raised concern in Japan.
Friday's exercise, open to the press, is the first time an Osprey has participated in Japan-U.S. joint drills since one of the aircraft based in Okinawa was involved in the Aug. 5 deadly crash in waters off Australia.
Defense Minister Itsunori Onodera said Tuesday that up to six Ospreys would join the exercise.
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