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.

Defense Correspondent

Chris Pocock

Last week, Jeremy Quinn,&nbsp;UK&nbsp;defence procurement minister,&nbsp;confirmed a £2.35 billion ($2.8 billion) upgrade for the Royal Air Force’s Eurofighter Typhoons. The work involves fitting the new <a href="https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/defense/2022-07-13/typhoons-electronic-attack-radar-course-flight-2023">European Common Radar System Mark 2 (ECRS Mk2)</a> active-array radar, which includes electronic attack functions. The aircraft will also receive Phase 4 software that will provide task-based management to the pilot and other enhancements such as protection against electronic interference.

 


“This is the single biggest capability boost since the introduction of the Typhoon,” said Air Chief Marshal Mike Wigston, Chief of the Air Staff. He said that one of the lessons already learned from the war in Ukraine is that electronic attack and defense is a fundamental requirement. Wigston confirmed that the first radar trial set will fly next year, with conversion of the RAF’s entire fleet of Tranche 3 Typhoons by the end of the decade. The Tranche 2 aircraft might follow, but will in any case receive the software update.

 


The RAF plans to retire its Tranche 1 Typhoons by the end of the decade, leaving a fleet of 107 Tranche 2 and 3 jets. Wigston said that those aircraft will continue in service to beyond 2040.&nbsp;

New developments and products in avionics, specifically about aircraft electronics in the cockpit.

AESA Radar Confirmed for UK Typhoons

The UK government has confirmed that the ECRS Mk2 E-scan radar will be installed in some of the Typhoon fleet.

2024 Corporate Aviation Leadership Summit

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News and issues about aviation maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO), covering all segments of the aviation industry; and modifications for aircraft and engines. Subjects include product support of aircraft, engines and avionics, MRO company mergers, acquisitions, announcements and personnel, Airworthiness Directives, Supplemental Type Certificate approvals and other topics.

News and issues relating to business, corporate and private aviation, primarily regarding turbine-engine-powered airplanes and helicopters. Subjects include aircraft, engines, maintenance, operations, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security, and training.

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News and issues relating to international air transport and cargo carriers, national airlines and regional airlines, including aircraft, engines, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security and training.

Essential news and analysis on the defense aerospace business. Your trusted source for new and ongoing programs and requirements in military aircraft (manned and unmanned), engines, avionics, weapons and associated systems, including ground-based air defense.

Main security threat areas include Middle East conflict zones

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Recent developments presage some compelling new products

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News and issues relating to civil and military unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and remotely piloted aircraft systems (RPAS) of all kinds and sizes, including those used for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR), combat (unmanned combat air vehicles, or UCAVs), law enforcement, research and other applications. Of particular focus is the FAA's planned integration of UAS into the U.S. national airspace system.

News and issues relating to the aerospace industry that are related to the science, engineering and business of flight in space involving civil, industrial and military applications, and similar topics related to flight in the atmosphere of the Earth that are not covered more directly by other AINonline subject channels. In other words, both astronautical and aeronautical subjects, except for those aeronautical topics that are specifically covered elsewhere on this website.

A sale of peripheral assets could net up to $12 billion for the aerospace and defense group

Jeppesen and ForeFlight Sale Could Yield $8B For Boeing

Charles Alcock

News and developments about airplanes, helicopters and unmanned air vehicles used in all varieties of operations, including airlines, military, business, commercial, general aviation and private.

News and developments about everything that goes into the cabin of an aircraft, from floor coverings to headliners, with a special emphasis on in-flight entertainment, communications and other electronics for passengers. If it is in the cabin of an aircraft, it’s covered here.

Farnborough AirShow 2022

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Collins Announces Upgrades to King Air, Hawker Avionics

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