Tony Osborne

European Defence Editor at Aviation Week, proud hubby to Dr Kubi, aircraft photographer (Canon user, obvs), amateur gardener and committed Remainer.

[Theo Francken @FranckenTheo]

SCAF is dood. Het water tussen Dassault en Airbus is te groot.

Voor wie droomt van één Europees leger is het pijnlijk wakker worden. Politici die hiermee blijven zwaaien als zijnde dé oplossing, maken de mensen wat wijs. En het zal sowieso veel meer kosten dan 2% BBP…

De NAVO blijft de hoeksteen vormen van onze collectieve verdediging. Europese lidstaten moeten veel meer verantwoordelijkheid nemen voor de conventionele verdediging van ons continent. We moeten werken aan meer integratie en samenwerkingsverbanden tussen onze Europese defensie-industrie, maar dat zal nog veel tijd en energie vergen. Het protectionisme is nog erg groot. Rome is niet op één dag gebouwd.

Net geland vanuit Cyprus, hele dag goed gewerkt aan meer Europese defensiesamenwerking. Stap voor stap. Rationeel en realistisch. 🤝

[Belgian Air Force🇧🇪 @BeAirForce]

One of our 🇧🇪🇱🇺 A400M from 15th Wing took part in a 🇸🇪 Swedish Air Force exercise, training for highway landings in near-real conditions.

➡️ Operating from limited infrastructure, anywhere, anytime.
🤝 Boosting interoperability & operational readiness.

📷Vanfraeyenhoeven L.

[Airbus Defence @AirbusDefence]

The first Airbus #A330MRTT for Canada🍁 (STTC) continues to make steady progress at our conversion centre in Getafe, Spain.
🔜 The next major milestone will be its maiden flight, a key milestone for this tanker aircraft destined to protect Canada’s sovereignty and enhance operations both in NORAD and in NATO.

[Vincent Lamigeon @VincentLamigeon]

Des sources de haut niveau chez Airbus et Dassault, contactées par Challenges, n'ont pas été informées d'un arrêt du programme

[The Royal Family @RoyalFamily]

🇺🇦 The President of Ukraine visited The King this afternoon at Windsor Castle

[Tony Osborne @Rotorfocus]

Get rid of the triple lock before it bankrupts the nation…

[Bloomberg @business]

The UK government is planning to cut £6 billion ($8 billion) in investment for projects such as schools and hospitals to help fund defense spending, local media reports said. https://t.co/jj7MBMWlw2

[Vincent Lamigeon @VincentLamigeon]

Assez sidérant qu'une annonce de cette importance soit faite en off par un seul des trois Etats partenaires. La France n'a pas confirmé à cette heure, l'Espagne n'est même pas citée

[Tony Osborne @Rotorfocus]

@GarethJennings3 Probably find out Wednesday…

[Tony Osborne @Rotorfocus]

Starting the #ILA Airshow in #Berlin with some clarity, but probably not the news industry wanted to hear: https://t.co/ApevKRtAIn

[Thomas Schumacher @PaxAquitania]

"Le Chancelier allemand Friedrich Merz devrait annoncer mercredi lors de l'inauguration du salon aéronautique de Berlin (ILA) la fin du programme franco-allemand SCAF (Système de combat aérien du futur), selon des sources concordantes." https://t.co/T0Un7rW3b9

[Christoph Schlegel @FoxTwo2022]

FCAS dead. At long last.

https://t.co/nTqopYDuwD

[Airbus Helicopters @AirbusHeli]

At @ILA_Berlin, we introduce the Airbus U145: an uncrewed, fully autonomous variant of the H145. Optimised for cargo with no cockpit, an integrated nose door, and full autonomy, its first flight is set for late 2026.

[Hugh Laurie @hughlaurie]

Thanks for your critique, Janet. We actually tried a couple of episodes where House (Hugh Laurie) (please put the brackets in the right place) gets it right first time, but they were only 6 minutes long. NBC weren’t happy. Then we tried some where House never gets it right and the patient dies. The audience wasn’t happy.

One could apply your trenchant analysis to other art forms: JS Bach wrote 30 Goldberg variations on the same chord structure; Frida Kahlo painted 50 portraits of herself; Henry Moore, what??

The point is, or was, variations on a theme; if all you see is hospital, medical blah blah, then it wasn’t meant for you.

Nonetheless, I look forward to your first novel!

[Greg Bagwell @gregbagwell]

The commemoration of the bravery, tragedy and importance of D-Day is not ever the place to try and score cheap political points. What an ignorant and disrespectful dumbass.

[Vivek Singh @VivekSi85847001]

It's mid June & HAL has not deliver a single Tejas MK1A to IAF. Multiple jets are rolled out & undergoing flight test still 0 delivery.

Earlier Engine was issue, now God knows what's the issue.

[Tony Osborne @Rotorfocus]

@DogutCem Nice one, it’s a good looking aircraft.

[Tony Osborne @Rotorfocus]

VC-25Q emerges…

[OC Scanner 🇺🇸 🇺🇸 @OC_Scanner]

#BREAKING First images of the new VC-25B, Future Air Force 1 have emerged

Photo by @SkunkChaser25

[Lockheed Martin @LockheedMartin]

Step one: break the sound barrier.✔️

The X-59 has officially flown at supersonic speeds for the first time, marking a major step forward on the path to quieting the sonic boom. Even faster and quieter flights are coming soon.

[Alex Wickham @alexwickham]

Breaking: Keir Starmer accuses JD Vance of interfering in British democracy and attempting to stir up unrest on British streets

This is the strongest condemnation yet by Starmer of the Trump administration

Number 10 says:

“In recent days we have seen people trying to interfere in our democracy and seeking to stir up division on our streets.

“The Nowak family are grieving after Henry’s horrific murder. They have said they do not want his death to be used to create further division, hatred or tension. We should be respecting their wishes.

“Our politics should bring people together even in the most terrible of circumstances. That is who we are as a country.”

[Britten-Norman @BrittenNorman]

First new UK-built Islander: wing-to-fuselage join complete.
The next generation is taking shape in Britain - with more on the line behind it.
#MadeInBritain #STOL #BrittenNorman #Islander