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.
Airbus Helicopters and its Chinese partner Avicopter have signed an agreement for the production of up to 1,000 EC175/AC352 helicopters over the next 20 years. Airbus Helicopters – formerly Eurocopter – began joint development work on the EC175, which is designated AC352 or Z-15 in China, in 2005. Avicopter produces the airframe, with Airbus providing most of the aircraft’s dynamic components. Final assembly takes place on two separate production lines in France and China.
Swiss independent helicopter manufacturer Marenco Swisshelicopter has built its order backlog to 59 aircraft in preparation for the first flight of its initial product. Marenco displayed the first prototype of the Honeywell HTS900-powered 2,650 kg (5,842 lb.) SKYe SH09 single-engine light helicopter at Heli-Expo 2014 in Anaheim, Calif., in February, and is hopeful of achieving a first flight in April.
The Brazilian air force will use its newly purchased Hermes 900 unmanned air vehicles for security missions during the upcoming soccer World Cup. Brazil has ordered an as-yet unknown number of the systems from Elbit in a deal announced at the end of March, but signed on March 14 through Elbit’s Brazilian subsidiary, AEL Sistemas SA. The aircraft will be delivered in May and ready for operations during the World Cup competition, which begins in June.
