WASHINGTON — A review panel yesterday recommended that the Pentagon move cautiously forward in developing the troubled MV-22 Osprey helicopter program.
The Osprey is made jointly by Boeing and the Bell Helicopter division of Providence-based Textron Inc.
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According to reports, the four-member panel of experts, which has been studying the program since December, does not believe the aircraft is ready for deployment. Last year, 23 Marines were killed in two Osprey crashes, and the project has since been delayed indefinitely.
According to reports, details of the panel’s report were not released pending notification of the results to the Senate Armed Services Committee. However, the panel said last week it was recommending that the Pentagon and Marine Corps move ahead carefully with testing and development, reports said.
The Pentagon’s inspector general is also conducting a separate investigation from the review panel, looking into allegations that Marine officials may have tried to cover up maintenance and reliability problems with the Osprey.
