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
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
Aircraft
Israeli Company Touts Surveillance Solutions
Bird Aerosystems has installed various sensors and displays on Cessna Citation jets and Bell 407 helicopters for Mexico
MBDA Gears Up Production of New Air Defense Missile
The Common Anti-Air Modular Missile (CAMM) will defend British warships and troops
Aircraft
Iran Shows ‘Stealth’ Fighter, Jet Trainer and Missiles
The Qahar fighter was taxied, but has not yet flown. The Kowsar trainer was on static display. The missiles have been fired.
Aircraft
Israel Secures Huge Missile Contracts in India
After a joint development, IAI will supply new surface-to-air missile systems to the Indian Army and Navy worth $2 billion.
Aircraft
Flat LAAD Show Reflects Brazil's Economic and Political Woes
The Latin American Aerospace and Defense (LAAD) event was affected by the region’s economic problems.
Aircraft
Airbus Helicopters Signs New Agreement in Indonesia
Local partner PTDI – currently completing Cougars, Fennecs and Panthers – will be helped to develop support and MRO services.
Aircraft
Reprieve Likely for U-2 Dragon Lady
The U.S. Air Force will postpone plans to retire the high-flying recce jet in 2019-20.
AIN Blog: Airshow Season Starts With Events at China Lake and Lancaster
There will be plenty of fascinating displays.
Ruag Develops Simulated Testing of Chaff/Flare Systems
The German Air Force Tornado fleet will avoid firing of pyrotechnics when testing its self-protection system.
Maintenance and Modifications
The ‘Other’ Air Asia Seeks More Third Party MRO Business
The long-established Taiwanese company has new leadership that is pitching for international contracts.
