Based in London, Tony covers European defense programs. Prior to joining Aviation Week in November 2012, Tony was at Shephard Media Group where he was deputy editor for Rotorhub and Defence Helicopter magazines. Tony has covered avionics, unmanned vehicles, the supply chain and cyberwarfare.
An independent report into the construction of Britain’s warships has recommended that a new generation of light frigates for the Royal Navy should be built by another British shipyard or an industrial alliance rather than solely by BAE Systems.
Leonardo-Finmeccanica’s AW169 intermediate twin-engine helicopter has been granted a 200-kg. (441-lb.) increase in maximum gross weight by the European Aviation Safety Agency.
The company had originally planned to fly the prototype, 39-8, by the end of the year, but has elected to push the first flight into the second quarter of 2017.
