US defence secretary: Ospreys will be deployed as scheduled

US Defense Secretary Leon Panetta said Saturday that the deployment of Osprey transport aircraft in Okinawa in Japan will move forward. Panetta spoke to reporters about how the US officially notified Japanese officials earlier in the day of the planned deployment of the MV-22 Osprey, Japan's (NHK World) website reported. The US plans to base the tilt-rotor aircraft at the US Marine Corps Futenma Air Station in Okinawa. But a series of crashes involving the aircraft in the US has raised concerns among Okinawa residents. Panetta said it was important for the United States to be able to fly the Osprey in Japan, and added that US officials will continue to brief their Japanese counterparts on the aircraft's operations. He added that deploying the aircraft in Okinawa will enhance the US rebalancing of its military forces in the Asia-Pacific region. The US plans test-flights of the Osprey at the US Marine Corps Iwakuni Air Station in Yamaguchi Prefecture. But the aircraft will not be flown in Japan until the results of a Marine Corps investigation on recent accidents are presented to the Japanese government. Defense Secretary Panetta said he thinks the two sides have reached what he called "a very good compromise" on the issue.