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 — Norway says European cooperation on the Lockheed Martin F-35 is “essential” to keep the operational costs of the aircraft down. Speaking in London April 29, Norwegian Defense Minister Ine Eriksen Søreide said: “If each country alone is to maintain its own aircraft, it will be too expensive. Collaboration is essential. Multinational solutions push prices down and provide opportunities for Norwegian industry to enter the field.”
BAE Systems has been awarded a £125 million ($211 million) extension to a contract to support the U.K.’s Panavia Tornado GR4 fleet until the type’s retirement. The deal, signed by BAE and the U.K. Defense Ministry on May 1, will support the Tornado fleet until 2019, when the type will be retired, a decision made by defense officials during the 2010 Strategic Defense and Security Review (SDSR).
LONDON — ATK has delivered the first of two CASA—now Airbus—C235 gunships to the Jordanian armed forces. ATK announced that the first aircraft had arrived in country on May 1, in readiness for it to be displayed at the SOFEX 2014 trade show at the King Abdullah I air base near Amman on May 6-8.
