<p>Chris Pocock has been covering the defense beat for AIN for over 30&nbsp;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.</p>


Defense Correspondent

Chris Pocock

<p>The future of the Defence Export Services Organisation is under review by the new UK government. The agency promotes British arms sales abroad, and has administered the ongoing but controversial Al-Yamamah contracts through which the UK sold the Royal Saudi Air Force 120 Tornado combat jets, 50 Hawk and 50 PC-9 trainers, all supplied and supported by BAE Systems. At Paris, we reported that <a href="http://www.ainonline.com/news/single-news-page/article/troubled-bae-systems-fends-off-charges-with-outside-investigation/?no_cache=1&amp;cHash=844cc43992" target="_blank">BAE might face a formal investigation</a> by the US government into allegations of corruption surrounding Al-Yamamah. In late June, BAE admitted that the U.S. Department of Justice had indeed launched a probe. However, this has not affected BAE's $4.5 billion acquisition of Armor Systems, which was cleared by the U.S. authorities last month. </p>


DESO, BAE Face Scrutiny over Al-Yamamah

The future of the Defence Export Services Organisation is under review by the new UK government.

2024 Corporate Aviation Leadership Summit

AIN Products

SUBSCRIPTIONS

RESOURCES

ABOUT AIN