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
Libya Expected To Buy Rafale Fighters
Libya plans to buy 14 Dassault Rafale fighters as part of an arms package agreed by French President Nicholas Sarkozy and Libyan leader Muammar Ghadaffi du
NATO Cuts Airbus from Surveillance System
The proposed Alliance Ground Surveillance (AGS) system for NATO was scaled back when program officials quietly dropped plans to convert four Airbus A321 ai
Indian RFP for New Fighter Pleasing and Puzzling
How good is the Indian Air Force’s Request for Proposals (RFP) for the supply of 126 new fighters to meet the medium multi-role combat aircraft requirement
UK-Saudi Talks Continue on Typhoon Deal
Negotiations continue between the UK and Saudi Arabian governments over the details of Project Salam, the agreement to supply 72 Eurofighter Typhoons to Sa
Lighter-Than-Air Has Role in AEW
The UAE’s requirement for an airborne early warning (AEW) aircraft was another topic bubbling just under the surface at Dubai, [
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UAE Decision on Future Trainers Imminent
While record-breaking orders for airliners were announced, the just-completed Dubai Air Show, held from November 11 to 15, offered no big news for the defe
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Better, lighter targeting sought for air strikes against Taliban
A senior air force officer serving with NATO’s International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan has challenged the defense industry to produce
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Grounded for Six Months, F-35 Prepares for Return
The first Lockheed Martin (LM) F-35 Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) has now been grounded for more than six months.
Maximus response to freight requirements
An airline born as the freighter section of the Abu Dhabi Royal Flight has grown into a serious competitor in the specialized air cargo market.
Flying display: three jet teams and 12 more acts
Three military aerobatic teams from Europe will appear in the daily flying display here, interspersed with a dozen solo acts.
Boeing seals pact to expand Alsalam Aircraft
Boeing’s acquisition of a controlling interest in Alsalam Aircraft Company of Saudi Arabia will be formally recognized on Tuesday, when senior managers fro
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Skunk Works Describes Hypersonic Missile, Reveals New Aircraft
News from the Lockheed Martin Advanced Developments Projects (ADP), aka The Skunk Works, is a rare commodity.
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Osprey Tiltrotors Flying in Iraq; Mini-gun Testing Begins
The controversial Bell-Boeing MV-22 Osprey is now flying in a combat zone for the first time.
Death of Pentagon Official Might Delay KC-X Award
The death of the Pentagon’s second-highest-ranking procurement official on October 15 could well delay the crucial decision on whether Boeing or Northrop G
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F-35A JSF Remains Grounded, But Program Advances
The first Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning II (Joint Strike Fighter) has now been grounded for nearly six months.
Asian Aerospace 2007
Business aviation in Asia–particularly in China–was the focus of this year’s Asian Aerospace, held in Hong Kong from September 3 through 6.
China Shows Advanced Jet Trainer at ‘Civil’ Airshow
The Asian Aerospace show in Hong Kong earlier this month was supposed to be a civil-only event.
Taiwan Shows New Fighter Capability, but Upgrades Are Slowed
The Republic of China Air Force (ROCAF) of Taiwan recently displayed during public days at several ROCAF bases a new configuration of its Indigenous Defens
Saudi Typhoons in Final Assembly; Tornados Being Upgraded
AIN has learned that the first two Eurofighter Typhoons for the Royal Saudi Air Force (RSAF) are now on the final assembly line at BAE Systems’ Wart
India Issues RFP for Key Fighter Contest
The long-awaited competition to supply 126 new fighters to the Indian Air Force (IAF) is formally under way.
UK Pushes for Worldwide Arms Trade Treaty
The UK government is leading a diplomatic effort to craft an international Arms Trade Treaty (ATT), but has reassured the defense industry that “responsibl
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Russian Air Force An-124s on the Block?
The 21 An-124 heavy airlifters owned by the Russian Air Force are now available for sale to commercial operators, according to unconfirmed media reports in
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UK Gives Go-ahead for Big New Aircraft Carriers
After years of preliminary definition and assessment, the UK Ministry of Defence gave the go-ahead for construction of two 65,000-tonne aircraft carriers.
It's Official: A400M First Flight is Delayed
To no one's great surprise, EADS finally admitted that the A400M airlifter will be late taking off.
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Austrian and Eurofighter Reach Compromise over Typhoon Order
Eurofighter reached an agreement with Austria over the disputed contract for 18 Typhoons, as
DESO, BAE Face Scrutiny over Al-Yamamah
The future of the Defence Export Services Organisation is under review by the new UK government.
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Saudis Close To Signing Contract for Eurofighter Typhoons
In our final edition at the recent Paris Air Show we revealed that
