Chris Pocock
Defense Correspondent
Chris Pocock has been covering the defense beat for AIN for over 30 years. He is a British citizen and a graduate of the University of Cambridge. Chris worked in the air cargo business for ten years before becoming a full-time writer in 1983. He subsequently edited two air cargo journals before becoming AIN’s Defense Editor. He retired from that position in 2018, but still contributes to the publication. Chris has written extensively on aerial reconnaissance, including four books on the history of the U-2 spyplane. He also lectures on this and other topics related to intelligence-gathering in the Cold War.
Latest from Chris Pocock
Aircraft
Fast Jet Training Ascends In The UK
Ascent has lowered front-line training and is able to take foreign students at the UK Military Flying Training System at RAF Valley.
Aircraft
The Other MFTS Programs
Ascent has run UK Military Flying Training System at RAF Valley for a year. It has lowered front-line training and can now take foreign students.
Aircraft
Airbus D&S Refines Passive Radar, Explores Civil Use
Passive detection of aircraft has been developing for many decades and there is renewed interest in Eastern Europe.
Teething Troubles Beset New UK Military Air Safety Regime
The UK’s new Military Aviation Authority has created delays in programs as it beds in.
Germany Looks To UAV Fleet Requirements After Heron Success
Germany is likely to extend its contract for IAI Herons operating in Afghanistan, but is considering its overall UAS. requirements.
Lockheed Martin F-35 Fleet Still Grounded
Royal International Air Tattoo organizers no longer expect the aircraft to make an appearance.
Rotorcraft
AgustaWestland To Upgrade Brazilian Navy Lynx
New engines and avionics are among the upgrades planned for the Super Lynxes.
Swedish Gripen First for Meteor Missile
The beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile will be flying on Swedish air force Gripens next year.
Engine Fire Delays F-35 Transatlantic Flight
The Marine Corps is still planning to deploy the aircraft to the UK.
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
France Keeps Harfang UAS Despite Reaper Buy
Harfang UAS will fly with the French Air Force at least through 2017.
Frustrated Iraqi PM Buys Russian Fighters
Still awaiting deliveries from the U.S., Iraq buys second-hand fighters from Russia, which are scheduled to arrive in a few days.
Aircraft
Sikorsky Finally Lands New U.S. Rescue Helicopter
The U.S. Air Force could eventually acquire 112 combat rescue helicopters based on the UH-60M Black Hawk in a deal worth $7.9 billion, said Sikorsky.
Rotorcraft
Brazilian Production of EC725 Makes Progress
Previous EC725s for the nation's armed services were only partially assembled in Brazil.
Aircraft
The F-35B Is Vertically Challenged
The vertical landing restrictions that are emerging cast doubt on an important part of the operational utility of the F-35B.
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
Swiss Select Hermes 900 as New UAS
The Hermes 900 will replace the modified IAI Ranger UAVs, which are reaching the end of their life cycle.
Brazil Confirms KC-390 Order as Final Assembly Starts
The Brazilian air force will take first delivery of the airlifter at the end of 2016.
Airbus Suggests Civilian A400M Relief Operations
Relief organizations currently rely largely on old, environmentally unfriendly Russian airlifters.
MEADS Partners Eye Poland as Savior
The program's nine-year development is set to end this year, with no production order from the U.S., Germany or Italy.
Turkey’s Aerospace Ambitions on Display in Berlin
A turboprop trainer, attack helicopter and UAV were among the aircraft the nation showed at ILA Berlin.
Aircraft
German, European Defense Woes Undermine Berlin Airshow
Defense exhibitors and attendees at ILA Berlin are mostly focused on German requirements, but the Germans are not buying anything.
Aircraft
Mixed Messages, Outlook for Future Euro-MALE UAV
The question of certification looms large in any evaluation of future MALE UAVs for European nations.
Aircraft
Germany Offered Manned Israeli Substitute for Euro Hawk Sigint System
The proposal is a Sigint conversion of a Bombardier Global 5000.
Aircraft
Swiss Reject Gripen Buy in Referendum
Switzerland chose the Gripen after a thorough and protracted evaluation, and a framework agreement worth about $3.5 billion was signed in February 2013.
Iraq May Spend $790 Million on Beechcraft AT-6C Strike Aircraft
Iraq is the first announced customer for the AT-6.
World-First Claim for Israeli Camera Technology
Camera-on-chip technology makes possible superior image quality in miniature cameras, says the company.
U.S. Using MC-12s for Nigerian Surveillance
Air Force using the twin turboprops to locate the more than 200 school girls kidnapped by Boko Haram.
Iraq F-16 Flies; U.S. Requests More Upgrades
Orders from Iraq and other nations have extended the F-16 production line through 2017.
Aircraft
RAF Retires TriStar Tankers As Voyager Fleet Grows
AIN joined the last operational Tristar mission on March 24.
