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.
By the end of this decade the U.K.'s Panavia Tornado GR4 will have exited service, the Eurofighter Typhoon will have become the Royal Air Force’s primary ground-attack platform, and the Lockheeed Martin F-35B Lightning II will be just starting its deployment and preparing for land-based and shipborne operations.
LONDON—If new, devolved powers are introduced, the Scottish Parliament could have the right to decide the percentage of Air Passenger Duty (APD) rate levied on flights leaving Scottish airports. The move would be part of a wider package of measures suggested by the Smith Commission, launched by British Prime Minister David Cameron in the wake of the “No” vote in Scotland’s September independence referendum.
WARTON, U.K. — BAE Systems has begun systems tests on the first of 22 new Hawk jet trainers for the Royal Saudi Air Force (RSAF). Engineers began testing the electrical, fuel and hydraulic systems of the aircraft – designated ST001 – in November. The aircraft is significant, as it is the first to be assembled by the company since 2010, and also the first to be produced in the newly reconstituted Hawk assembly line now located at Warton after it was moved from Brough, East Yorkshire, which resulted in the loss of 900 jobs at that facility.
