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
F-35 Gets Bad Report Card from UK Legislators
A parliamentary watchdog’s report listed cost and technical concerns that were not allayed by LM or UK government officials.
Aircraft
Boeing Steps Ahead Towards MQ-25 Contract
The company has already completed a prototype to meet the U.S. Navy’s requirement for an unmanned aerial tanker.
Aircraft
Canada Scraps Plan To Buy Super Hornets from Boeing
Will buy second-hand Hornets from Australia instead, to boost its own fleet, pending competition for a long-term replacement
Aircraft
Qatar Boosts Its Order for Rafales, And Confirms Typhoons
The Gulf state will now buy 36 French combat jets, not 24. It also confirmed its order for 24 Eurofighter Typhoons.
Aircraft
Airbus Helicopters Delivers Panthers to Mexico; Continues HForce Testing
The company handed over the last pair of ten AS565MBe helos to the Mexican Navy, and fired weapons from an H145M
Aircraft
Qatar Seeks New Friends, and Maybe Denel
As tension between the Gulf state and its neighbours continues, Qatar says it has discussed buying into the South African arms company.
Aircraft
GEOINT Contribution To Air Campaigns Pondered
A survey of geospatial information professionals linked to a major upcoming conference calls for improvements
Aircraft
Embraer KC-390 Now in the U.S. for More Test Flights
Despite a serious incident last month, the Brazilian company says that the flight test campaign is going well
Aircraft
British Hybrid Airship Suffers Second Serious Accident
The Hybrid Air Vehicles Airlander deflated after breaking free from its mooring mast during wet and windy weather at its home base.
Aircraft
Dubai Airshow Was Dynamic for Defense
The UAE Air Force will upgrade its F-16s and Mirage 2000-9s, and replenish its depleted stocks of air-to-ground weapons.
Aircraft
Airships Are Coming to The Middle East
Lighter than air but heavy with promise, two companies aim to fly airships in the Middle East.
A Tale Of Two Cropdusters With A New Purpose
Two cropdusters are finding new missions as close air support and ISR platforms.
Maintenance and Modifications
UAE Places $1.6 Billion F-16 Upgrade Order
The order covers F-16E/F Block 60 upgrades as well as spares and support.
Yemen Issue Raised at Air Chiefs Conference
Operation Restore Hope has attracted unprecedented criticism from humanitarian agencies for indiscriminate targeting of civilians and refugees.
Aircraft
Speculation Mounts That F-35 Lightning Might Strike in UAE
Will the UAE be a customer for the Lockheed Martin F-35? Recent posturing suggests the Gulf nation wants to join the fray.
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
VStar Pioneers Small Sigint Sensors For UAVs
California-based VStar Systems eyeing the Middle East for its modular, low-weight, low-cost sensors that have potential to expand mission set
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
Czech Company Offers Low-Cost Turbines at Dubai
PBS Velka Bites manufactures a range of small turborops, turbojets and APUs.
Aircraft
Malaysia Grounds MiG-29s and Rethinks Future Fighter
The Royal Malaysian Air Force now seeks a light combat aircraft, and is also shopping for a new maritime patrol aircraft.
Aircraft
Germany Requests Pricing and Availability for the F-35
The German Air Force is seeking a Tornado replacement to enter service from 2025.
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
Start-up Company Pioneers Small SIGINT Sensors For UAVs
California-based VStar Systems is building modular, low-weight, low-cost sensors with potential to expand the mission sets of UAVs.
Aircraft
More Super Tucanos For Afghanistan, and USAF interest Grows
Six more Brazilian turboprops are going east via the U.S., while the USAF's ‘light attack experiment’ may continue.
Rafael Wins Israeli Order For New Version of Spike Missile
The home customer will buy more than 1,000 of a longer-range version of the Spike missile that can also be exported.
Rotorcraft
Airbus Delivers two H175s; Tiger Woes Continue
Company also reports progress with flight tests of the H160, but longstanding problems with the H225 and Tiger continue.
Aircraft
U.S. Sends New Deterrence Message to North Korea Via Seoul Airshow
The biennial ADEX trade show became a vehicle for another demonstration of U.S. airpower.
Aircraft
Good and Bad News for the Eurofighter Program
Qatar is set to become the next customer, but production is slowing, and Austria no longer wants to fly the jet.
Avionics
Hensoldt Buys British Sensor Company Kelvin Hughes
The maritime specialist will help Hensoldt’s ambition to become a sensor solutions provider.
Aircraft
Saab Goes American To Boost Boeing T-X Contender
The Swedish company will build its share of the jet trainer in the US, if the partnership wins the competition.
Aircraft
Confusion Arises Over the JSTARS Recap Plan
Senior U.S. Air Force leaders said that source selection would proceed on schedule, even as the requirement is re-assessed.
Aircraft
British Defense Show Prompts More ASDOT Announcements
Leonardo and Saab have pitched into the UK’s requirement for contracted Air Support to Defence Operational Training (ASDOT).
Aircraft
Bahrain To Get New and Upgraded F-16V Fighters
In a sale worth nearly $3.8 billion, the country will acquire the latest version of the ‘Viper’ and a huge variety of weapons
