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
Carrier Delivery Version of the Osprey Tiltrotor Is Launched
Bell Boeing gets production funding for CMV-22B, as part of a third multi-year buy.
Aircraft
Australia Confirms MQ-4C Triton Buy
The high-altitude maritime surveillance UAV will join Australia’s P-8s, while Germany mulls buying a SIGINT-dedicated version.
RAF Events Launch Summer Show Season
Big flypasts, a major air power conference, and the Royal International Air Tattoo (RIAT) are scheduled in the UK.
Aircraft
Transatlantic First Planned for GA-ASI SkyGuardian
The RPA will fly to the UK for static display at the Royal International Air Tattoo (RIAT).
Aircraft
Turkey Receives First F-35 Despite Political Row
Congress may halt deliveries because country is acquiring the Russian S-400 SAM system.
Aircraft
Potent New Israeli Air-surface Missile Revealed
IAI and IMI announced the Rampage, shortly before IMI’s sale to Elbit was concluded
Drones Proliferate at Eurosatory Show
The land systems event in Paris also offered some interesting air defense and airborne content
Aircraft
Germany Confirms Heron TP UAV Contract with Airbus
The service agreement will replace an existing one for smaller IAI Heron 1 UAVs.
Tecnam P2006T Offers New Sensor for Mapping Missions
A hybrid Leica sensor has been added to the low-cost surveillance aircraft
British F-35Bs Transfer to the UK
The first squadron is due to be operational from land bases in December, with carrier-based operations to follow
MBDA’s New Anti-Ship Missile Makes Progress
The helicopter-launched Sea Venom/ANL enjoyed a second successful development firing
Aircraft
Teams Form To Bid For Canada’s RPAS
A long-standing requirement was in focus again at this week’s CANSEC defense show.
Aircraft
Israel Flies First F-35 Combat Missions
But strikes against Iranian targets in Syria were not opposed by Russian air defenses based there.
Aircraft
Piaggio Taps SatCom Link To Fly Hammerhead UAV
The Italian company claims the first beyond-line-of-sight flight control of a European-designed MALE UAV.
UK Deploys 'World-Leading' Ship Defense System
The key to the Royal Navy’s Sea Ceptor includes a new missile made by MBDA.
Aircraft
Aviators Warned: Don’t Take Space For Granted
The space business is vibrant, but threats are growing, conference hears.
Aircraft
After 50 Years, Boeing’s Chinook Sales Appeal Is Undiminished
Germany and Israel are being courted, Spain is buying again, and so could the UK.
Aircraft
BAE Systems Invests In Solar-Powered ‘Pseudo-Satellite’
The OEM has partnered with small British company Prismatic to develop a high-altitude, long-endurance UAV.
Aircraft
Franco-German C-130J Squadron Now a Reality
Details of a S1.4 billion sale to Germany made public, in another blow to Europe’s A400M program.
Rotorcraft
U.S. Approves AH-1Z Sale To Bahrain
Bell’s attack helicopter has achieved a second export success.
Franco-German Defense Axis Dominates ILA Berlin Airshow
New fighter, UAS, and heavy-lift helicopter requirements generated much discussion
Aircraft
Publicity Boost in Berlin for the Euro-MALE Drone
The key industrial partners talked up their plans for the European medium-altitude long-endurance remotely piloted aircraft system
Aircraft
Airbus and Dassault Launch a New FCAS—without BAE
The Future Air Combat System (FCAS) is now a Franco-German project to eventually replace Eurofighters and Rafales.
Aircraft
Aero Vodochody Partners With IAI To Equip and Sell Czech Jets
The L-159 and the L-39NG are now being offered with Israeli radar and avionics.
Rotorcraft
European Rotorcraft Makers Demonstrate Manned-Unmanned Teaming
An Airbus H145M controlled a Schiebel S-100 UAV in various scenarios
Aircraft
F-35 Program Completes Last Developmental Test Flight
There have been no serious mishaps—except for the cost.
Aircraft
Flight-test C-130 Will Have Multiple Gremlins
But these are small UAVs designed by Dynetics for DARPA, that the C-130 will launch and recover.
Aircraft
USAF To Fly the B-52 into the 2050s with New Engines, Radars
Already in service for over 50 years, the venerable bomber is now set to outlast the B-1 and B-2.
Aircraft
MQ-25 Contenders on Display at U.S. Navy Show
Boeing, GA-ASI, and Lockheed Martin pressed their claims for the unmanned carrier-borne refueler
Aircraft
Field Aerospace, Rockwell Collins Win Big USAF Upgrade Contract
The large fleet of T-1A Jayhawks will get new cockpits to train future airlift and tanker pilots.
