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.
LONDON — Helicopter operator Bristow Group has confirmed it has purchased a pair of AgustaWestland AW139s as part of a contingency plan against delays in the certification of the search-and-rescue capable AW189. The two aircraft have been built by AgustaWestland in Italy as concerns grow about the availability of the new intermediate heavy AW189 to service Bristow’s so-called Long SAR contract with the U.K. Department of Transport.
LONDON – The U.S. Navy could fly its Boeing F/A-18 Super Hornets beyond 2040, a senior officer says. Speaking at the International Fighter Conference in London on Nov. 20, Rear Adm. Michael Manazir, the Navy’s director of air warfare, told delegates that by simply extrapolating the longevity of the current fleet of U.S. Marine Corps legacy Hornets, which are due to exit the inventory in 2030, it was likely that some F/A-18E/Fs and also EA-18G Growlers could still be flying 40 years after they entered service.
LONDON – The U.K. defense ministry has formally signed up for its first batch of four F-35B Joint Strike Fighters, following the finalization of production agreements between Lockheed Martin and the U.S. Defense Department.
