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
Two More Nations Join Euro-Tanker Fleet
Seven Airbus A330MRTTs are now slated for the pooling project, but still only four countries have committed.
Aircraft
Britain’s New Aircraft Carrier Starts Sea Trials
HMS Queen Elizabeth can carry up to 36 F-35B stealth fighters or 43 helicopters.
Aircraft
Leonardo’s M346 Gets Some Teeth
A fighter attack version is being offered that retains the type’s previous capabilities.
Aircraft
Pioneering Civilian Lease Deal for C295 Airlifter
A Canadian leasing company placed a firm order for 12, hoping to place them in various civilian and government operations.
Aircraft
Unique Airbus Aircraft Formation
This unique formation of Airbus aircraft was flown over southern France.
Aircraft
Rafael Displays Wide Range Of Airborne Weaponry
The Israeli company has some innovative solutions to precision attack, and electronic warfare
Aircraft
LASA Shows T-Bird at Paris
The T-Bird is entering the market for military light counter-insurgency aircraft based on cropduster airframes.
Aircraft
LM Boosts Hercules Program With Civil Order, New SOF Version
The LM-100J on display at Paris has a launch customer, and a new international version for special missions was also announced.
Aircraft
French Company Signs LOI For Lockheed Martin's Hybrid Airship
A second potential buyer for the innovative transporter has emerged, but there is still no firm order for the LMH-1
Aircraft
Activity-Based Intelligence Comes of Age in Modern Warfare
Geographic intelligence has emerged as a key tool as states battle new types of enemies.
Safety
Vintage Fighters Put Ejection Seats To the Test
Ejection seat leader Martin-Baker keeps a pair of classic Gloster Meteor jets on its test team.
Avionics
Safran Unveils New-Generation Optical Sensor
The Euroflir 410 provides multispectral imaging from a variety of airborne platforms
Aircraft
Airbus Negotiating To Reduce A400M Penalty Payments
The European countries that launched the airlifter are being asked to forgive late deliveries of aircraft and performance
Aircraft
L3 Shows New Light Strike System Based On Agplane
The AT-802L is a conversion of Air Tractor's cropduster, with attack mission avionics and weapons
Aircraft
Fast as Lightning
Lockheed Martin and the U.S. Air Force have brought two F-35A stealth fighters to Paris.
Rotorcraft
Airbus Helicopters Rethinks, Rationalizes Production
Starting with the H160, the European rotorcraft producer has new plans for the future.
Aircraft
Air Power Conference and RIAT Draw Air Force Decision Makers
The RIAT show and Air Power Conference will be held in the UK in July.
Aircraft
Airbus Shows New Airliners Though A330neo Misses Show
The A321neo, A350-1000 and A380 are all flying here, but the A330neo is still grounded
Maintenance and Modifications
Sabena Technics Modifying French Navy Falcon 50s
The Sabena mod program involves cutting a hatch into the the Falcon 50's fuselage to allow dropping a rescue boat.
Maintenance and Modifications
Airborne Technologies Offers Airbus Helicopter Upgrades
The upgrades include a tactical workstation, video-stabilizing unit, hardware for a Wescam gimbal and searchlight and more.
Aircraft
Operation Inherent Resolve Takes its Toll on Air Forces
Airforces involved in the non-NATO airstrike campaign against ISIS are seeing success but tension is high with Russian/Syrian forces.
Aircraft
After More Changes At the Top, Leonardo Seeks Equilibrium
Italy's Leonardo comes to the Paris Air Show with a new CEO in former banker Alessandro Profumo.
Training and Workforce
Contractors Seek To Cut The Cost of Military Flight Training
Even leading air forces are opting to contract out some flight training provision.
Aircraft
UTAS Expands Airborne Reconnaissance Portfolio
New roles are being found for the UTAS DB-110 airborne reconnaissance system.
Aircraft
Paris Airshow Inspires Unique Airbus Formation
Airbus flew this unique formation a few weeks before the Paris Air Show.
Aircraft
‘Augmented Reality’ Could Ease Maintenance Skills Shortage
According to enterprise software specialist IFS, engineers deployed to maintain aircraft could benefit from virtual guidance from afar.
Aircraft
Trials Held with S-100 Camcopter Inside Arctic Circle
Schiebel's S-100 Camcopter scanned for vessels and tracked them in a 1,500-square-mile area at Norway's Andoya Test Center.
Aircraft
Will Hybrid Airships Really Take Off?
Lockheed Martin Skunk Works and Hybrid Air Vehicles are both vying for a potentially very lucrative market, should it emerge.
Aircraft
USAF Rethink Means Warthog Lives to Fight Another Day
Pentagon reverses A-10 retirement, but looks for new close air support platform.
Aircraft
Diamond Debuts New Multi-Purpose Surveillance Platform
The DA62 MPP has more cabin volume for surveillance than the existing DA42 MPP aircraft.
