The military’s controversial V-22 Osprey tilt-rotor aircraft will head to Iraq for its first combat tour later this year, Marine officials announced Friday. After 18 years and $20 billion in development the aircraft will give the Marines more flexibility, officials said. The aircraft was redesigned after two accidents in 2000 that killed 23 Marines. Accidents in 1991 and 1992 killed seven. The Marines say the plane’s problems are in the past.

The military’s controversial V-22 Osprey tilt-rotor aircraft will head to Iraq for its first combat tour later this year, Marine officials announced Friday. After 18 years and $20 billion in development the aircraft will give the Marines more flexibility, officials said. The aircraft was redesigned after two accidents in 2000 that killed 23 Marines. Accidents in 1991 and 1992 killed seven. The Marines say the plane’s problems are in the past.

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