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
King Air still in high demand for hot-and-high recon missions
How much more performance can be extracted from the King Air twin turboprop to satisfy surveillance requirements? The latest Model 350ER offers almost doub
Aircraft
Block III will ensure Apache ‘production’ through 2040
They’ve done it with the Chinook, now they’re doing it with the Apache.
Aircraft
LM Defends F-35 JSF Agility Against Critics
Is LM’s Joint Strike Fighter a “bomb truck” optimized for the stealthy attack of ground targets but of limited value as a defender of airspace?
Aircraft
More and More Global Hawks
Versions of the Global Hawk are proliferating, with five now in service or development for the U.S., as well as the Euro Hawk for Germany and another for t
Aircraft
ATC integration poses challenge for Euro Hawk
If all goes well, the German air force could be the first air arm to routinely operate a military unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) in European airspace.
Italy Signs for Boeing CH-47F Chinooks
The Italian Army confirmed that it is buying 16 Boeing CH-47F Chinook heavy-lift helicopters in a co-production deal with AgustaWestland that is worth appr
Boeing Pushes F/A-18 Developments
Boeing is making further improvements to the F/A-18E/F, and evaluating a more powerful version of the Super Hornet’s GE F414 powerplants.
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
GA-ASI Unveils Stealthy Predator UAV
The stealthy, jet-powered version of the Predat
Debate Continues over Cost, Schedule of Early F-35s
Although the Pentagon last month declared that it was increasing the early production tempo of the F-35, the decision to buy 30 aircraft next year does not
Aircraft
Denel Now a C-130 Service Center
Denel Aviation of South Africa has been certified by Lockheed Martin as a service center for the maintenance, repair and overhaul of C-130s.
Aircraft
Boeing Refreshes F-15 Strike Eagle with Stealth, New EW
Boeing has applied some stealth design principles to the F-15 Strike Eagle, and is marketing the modified aircraft for export as the F-15SE Silent Eagle.
Aircraft
Alenia Touts UAV Capability
Alenia Aeronautica is claiming leadership in Europe of unmanned aircraft development, following the recent completion of new flight tests of the Sky-Y demo
Aircraft
Embraer Launches KC-390 Transport Jet
The new tactical transport jet that has been under development in Brazil for the past two years was formally launched this month.
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
Pentagon’s Budget Review Boosts UAVs, Drops F-22, VH-71 and CSAR-X
The Pentagon is increasing production of the General Atomics Predator and Reaper armed UAVs and withdrawing 250 strike aircraft.
Aircraft
MiG Troubled by Debt and MiG-29 Grounding
The Russian government has bailed out the MiG Corporation after it lost more than $300 million last year and reported total debts of $1.25 billion.
Rotorcraft
India Relaunches Light Helicopter Contest
Indian helicopter requirements provided the only real news at this month’s Aero India event in Bangalore.
Rotorcraft
Eurocopter Gains New Orders from Brazil, Greece
Defense business accounts for nearly half the turnover of Eurocopter, and recent export orders should help the EADS subsidiary overcome a downturn in comme
Rotorcraft
Next Defense Budget Could Seal Fate of F-22, VH-71
Intense speculation surrounds the Obama Administration’s Fiscal Year 2010 U.S.
Eurofighter Nations Delay Meteor Missile until 2015
The four partner nations in Eurofighter have agreed to delay until 2015 the introduction of the Meteor, the advanced rocket-ramjet beyond visual range air-
More Competition Seen in European Defense Procurement
A new measure to open up defense procurement by European countries to greater competition will become law within the next 18 months.
Embraer Redesigns C-390 and Seeks Launch This Year
Embraer has redesigned its C-390 tactical transport after advice from the Brazilian Air Force (FAB).
UK Nimrod Program Suffers More Cost and Delay
The flight-test program for the BAE Systems Nimrod MRA.4 maritime patrol aircraft is behind schedule, and costs have risen by $150 million in the past year
EADS Pleads with Customers for A400M Rethink
EADS Airbus has proposed major revisions to its contract with seven European nations for the A400M airlifter, including a delay in the first deliveries unt
“Paveway” or “paveway?” It Depends Who’s Talking
Lockheed Martin last month secured a $30 million contract from the U.S.
Rotorcraft
Malaysia Abandons Eurocopter EC725 Purchase
Malaysia announced it would buy 12 Eurocopter EC725 Cougar medium-lift helicopters, then changed its mind two weeks later.
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
European MALE Designs Challenge U.S. and Israeli UAVs
Two new medium-altitude long-endurance (MALE) UAVs are due to make their first flights next year as European aerospace companies challenge the lead in this
Rotorcraft
India and Russia Agree on Helo Deal, Review Joint Defense Projects
India agreed to buy 80 Mil Mi-17V-5 helicopters worth $1.2 billion during a visit to Delhi by Russian President Dmitry Medvedev early this month.
Norway Confirms Choice of F-35, to Saab's Displeasure
Saab reacted with vigor to a statement by the Norwegian government that the Gripen fighter was inferior to the Lockheed Martin F-35 JSF in most aspects of
Typhoons For Sale as UK, Italy Try to Offload Tranche 3
As negotiations continue between Eurofighter and the four European partner nations over the Tranche 3 buy, reports are proliferating that Italy and the UK
Zhuhai Airshow Includes Debut of China's J-10 Fighter
China’s new J-10 combat aircraft made its public debut at the Zhuhai airshow last month.
