U.S. to send more controversial aircraft to Okinawa

WASHINGTON, April 30 (UPI) -- The United States says it will deploy 12 more Osprey aircraft to Okinawa this summer despite long-standing Japanese concerns about the aircraft's safety.

Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel made the announcement in a joint press conference with his Japanese counterpart, Itsunori Onodera, Stars and Stripes reported Monday.

It is the second squadron of the MV-22 Ospreys, which can take off and land like a helicopter and fly like a plane, to be deployed to Okinawa.

The aircraft will come from Marine Median Helicopter Squadron 262, the Flying Tigers.

Okinawans have questioned the safety record of the aircraft after two of them crashed last year.