After nearly 2 decades of development costing $20 billion and the loss of 30 lives, the Osprey V-22 tilt-rotor aircraft is heading off to Iraq later this year.  This will mark the first deployment of the controversial plane.

Able to take off and land vertically, the Osprey’s engines transition to a horizontal position allowing it to perform like a conventional aircraft.

Loud and relatively slow, no doubt the insurgents will be jockeying for the bragging rights of the first Osprey kill.