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 — Politicians representing Sweden’s center-right Alliance have said they will boost the number of JAS 39E Gripens ordered for the Swedish air force from 60 to 70 aircraft if it gets into power in the next general election. Prompted by the ongoing crisis in Ukraine, and writing in the Dagens Nyheter daily newspaper on April 22, politicians from each of the four parties making up Alliance say they want to increase annual defense spending by an additional 5.5 billion Swedish Krona ($840 million).
LONDON — Airbus Helicopter has completed the redesign and certification of the bevel gear vertical shaft fitted in its EC225 heavy helicopters. Failure of the component — a critical part inside the main gearbox — caused the ditching of two EC225s into the North Sea in May and October 2012, prompting a nine-month halt in operations for both the EC225 and the military version, known as the EC725. The stopping of operations over hostile environments created issues for oil and gas operators across the globe.
