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
New Japanese Missiles Shown at Formal Review
A ceremonial review of the Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF) last month included the static display of two new Japanese air-to-air missiles that are now
F-35 Goes Supersonic as Critics Cite Lack of Agility
The F-35 Joint Strike Fighter has exceeded Mach 1 for the first time–a timely achievement after a recent Rand study suggested that the design lacked maneuv
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
EADS Seeks Early Go-ahead for Advanced UAV
New information on UAV developments at EADS emerged during a recent media briefing day in Germany.
Aircraft
Partner nations pressured to close Eurofighter deal
Eurofighter CEO Aloysius Rauen made a strong plea here yesterday for the four partner nations–the UK, Germany, Italy and Spain–to close the deal for 236 mo
Aircraft
Diamond DA42 Twin Star Bids for Surveillance Orders
An all-composite four-seat general aviation aircraft made in Austria is attracting serious interest in the ISR (intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissan
Industry Pushes E-Scan Radar for Eurofighter
Eurofighter has offered India codevelopment of an active antenna for the Typhoon’s Captor radar, as part of its bid to secure that country’s 126-unit order
Report Scores Civilian Deaths, Shortcomings in U.S./NATO Afghan Air Ops
A report by the international Human Rights Watch (HRW) organization has put further pressure on U.S.
Aircraft
Rafale in Red Flag, and in Switzerland
Four Rafale fighters from the French Air Force have completed a month-long deployment to the U.S., where they conducted a squadron exchange at Luke AFB and
Aircraft
Northern Europeans Seeking Alternatives to the F-35
Denmark, the Netherlands and Norway are all formally investigating alternatives to the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter to replace their F-16s.
Engines
Testbed Problems Add To A400M Delay
The Europrop TP400 engine that has been fitted to a C-130 testbed at Cambridge, UK, by Marshall Aerospace ran at full power for the first time last week.
Raytheon Paveway IV Smart Bomb Now Available to RAF
A new “smart” bomb employing three guidance modes is entering service with the UK Royal Air Force.
Aircraft
Boeing Confident on C-17 Future; Pitching New Version
Continuing production of the C-17 Globemaster airlifter into the next decade now seems assured.
Aircraft
Dilemma for Boeing as Pentagon Issues Revised RFP for KC-X
Boeing faces a tough decision, now that the Pentagon has confirmed that bigger is better in the KC-X tanker competition.
Northrop Grumman and Boeing evaluate their KC-X chances
Northrop Grumman rates its chances of clinching the KC-X contract as only 50 percent, if the US Congress intervenes in the decision.
Nimrod MRA.4 not in service till 2010
After a year in which the BAE Nimrod maritime patrol aircraft has received unprecedented negative publicity in the UK, it’s hardly surprising that BAE Syst
Aircraft
Raptor Thrills at Farnborough but Thanks to Escort?
This columnist never did discover why the U.S.
Aircraft
Pilatus PC-21 Now Training Singaporean Students
Student pilots from the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) have begun basic flight training on the Pilatus PC-21 advanced turboprop.
BAE Hawk Marketing Refocused after Jet Trainer Eliminated in Singapore
Although neither the UAE nor Singapore has yet chosen their new jet trainer, both have now eliminated the BAE Systems Hawk from consideration.
Aircraft
UK Royal Air Force To Replace Nimrod SIGINT Aircraft with RC-135s
The UK Royal Air Force flies three Nimrod R.1 versions that are dedicated to SIGINT (signals intelligence).
Saudi Typhoon Deal Progresses, but Corruption Probes still Threaten
The first seven Eurofighter Typhoons for the Royal Saudi Air Force (RSAF) are now in final assembly at the Warton, UK facility of BAE Systems.
Northrop and Boeing regroup for KC-X fight
Northrop Grumman rates its chances of clinching the KC-X contract as only 50 percent, if the U.S.
UK revamps military training with public-private partnership
“Contractorization” may be an ugly word, but for Lockheed Martin and Britain’s VT Group, it is pretty good business.
Raytheon offers replacement for Predator control station
Raytheon is displaying here at Farnborough its universal control station (UCS) for UAVs.
UK seals weapons partnerships
Future British requirements for missiles and other guided weapons seem likely to be met by a partnership sealed here yesterday.
Aircraft
A400M program delays likely as concerns mount
Further delay to the Airbus A400M military transport now seems inevitable.
Aircraft
ASTOR passes big test, formal acceptance next
The advanced stand-off radar (ASTOR) ground surveillance system produced by Raytheon has passed a major operational test, and will be officially accepted b
Boeing: KC-767 tanker is still the right size for KC-X
Boeing still believes that the KC-767 is the right-size airplane to meet the KC-X tanker requirement, despite the U.S.
