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
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.
Aircraft
First Flight of Airbus A330neo Expected By End of Summer
First pair of Trent 7000s to arrive from Rolls-Royce imminently
L-3 Wescam Offers Quick-fit ISR Consoles
Imagery from the company’s sensor and targeting turrets can be actioned onboard.
Aircraft
First Japanese-assembled F-35A Is Rolled Out
Mitsubishi Heavy Industries is the key contractor, but is also leading Japan’s own stealth fighter development.
Aircraft
Leonardo Continues Development of 'World-First' Radar Jammer
The UK Royal Air Force is now helping to fund the BriteCloud expendable active decoy for fighter aircraft.
Aircraft
Trade Row Threatens Canada’s Fighter Replacement Plans
An interim—and controversial—buy of Super Hornets may fall victim to row with US over alleged subsidies to Bombardier.
Aircraft
BAE Systems Rolls Out First Typhoon and Hawk for Oman
Deliveries begin this year to replace Jaguars and supplement a previous buy of Hawks
Rotorcraft
Pentagon Reports $500 Million in Possible Helicopter Sales
MD 530Fs for Kenya, Bell 429s for Slovakia, and CH-47Ds for Greece would all be supplied under FMS terms
Aircraft
BAE Systems Claims Next-generation Threat Warning
Aircraft and helicopter survivability against missile attack could be significantly improved, says company
Aircraft
Airlander Hybrid Airship Flies Again
Modifications have been made after last year’s heavy landing. But firm customers are still awaited.
Aircraft
Airbus Successfully Flight-tests Automatic Air Refueling
An F-16 was connected to an A330 MRTT using image processing software
