Vice Adm. Daniel Cheever expressed confidence in the Navy's ability to seamlessly integrate the new tanker into the air wing despite challenges associated with unmanned technologies and carrier flight operations.
The vice chief's remarks represent some of the first public comments Navy leadership has made on the Dec. 22 friendly fire incident.
Onshoring and investment in military-specific semiconductors anchor a cornerstone of the defense industrial base.
Pentagon officials say they have "high confidence" that they can return the V-22 Ospreys to flight safely, but are tight lipped on what they learned about the cause of a crash in Japan that killed eight airmen.