This will be interesting. "Controversial Osprey aircraft heading to Iraq."
"Marines bullish on hybrid helicopter-plane despite past accidents."
They must think they can protect it. Would seem like a "make or break" deployment for the thing.
The nominal cost in the FY 2005 budget was $115 million each. I wouldn't think it was much more than another $100 million over that.
Learning tilt-rotor technology may be included in some of that, and that would count for something. Still, for as vulnerable as they seem, as harsh an environment as Iraq is, it will be interesting to see how it fares.
Arf