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

After five years in service Merlin needs an upgrade

The UK Ministry of Defence is spending more than $1.35 billion to upgrade the Merlin Mk 1 large maritime helicopter which has been operational for less tha

Exports start to pick up as JSOW costs come down

After a slow start, the merits of Raytheon’s Joint Standoff Weapon (JSOW) are becoming apparent.

Redundancy still hindering European research progress

Will Europe ever get its defense procurement and research act together? The European Defence Agency (EDA), formed in Brussels last year to help create an o
Aircraft

On duty with U.S. Marines, ScanEagle in league of its own

What makes the ScanEagle unmanned air vehicle on display here this week different from the multitude of similar robot airplanes being touted for surveillan
Engines

Volvo delivers extra life to Gripen engine

Volvo Aero has delivered a number of post-certification enhancements to the RM12 twin turboshaft engine that powers the Saab Gripen.

Gripen’s show routine no ‘Red Flag’ exercise

The Gripen team occupies the high ground at the Farnborough show this year in a new prime-site chalet and with the Swedish fighter flying a daily solo rout
Aircraft

Lockheed Insists F-35 is Worth the Wait, Cost

The reduced radar cross-section of the F-35 allows it to evade most enemy air defenses, both airborne and ground-based.
Aircraft

Testing the New Technologies

The key technologies being investigated in the current UCAV programs are advanced flight control for tail-less, blended-wing-body configurations; autonomou
Aircraft

UCAV gains apparent but debate rages on cost, uses

Having led the way with unmanned combat air vehicle (UCAV) concept demonstrations, the U.S.