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Chris Pocock

London, United Kingdom

aerospace journalist semi-retired but still commenting at https://t.co/3GqlNGG0cK. Also the unofficial U-2 historian at https://t.co/IG6TSYAiLF

Featured in: Favicon ainonline.com Favicon bbc.co.uk Favicon breakingdefense.com Favicon historynet.com Favicon asianmilitaryreview.com Favicon futureflight.aero Favicon kearneyhub.com Favicon aerosociety.com

Articles

  • YET ANOTHER REPRIEVE FOR THE DRAGON LADY?

    2 weeks ago | dragonladytoday.com | Chris Pocock

    Just weeks after Secretary of the Air Force Troy Meinke and USAF chief Gen David Allvin restated the USAF’s desire to retire the U-2, a key Congressional committee has said that it should do no such thing. The USAF was planning to cease U-2 operations at the end of September, and retire the fleet during Fiscal Year 2026, which begins on 1st October.

  • THE F-35: OUR MISSILES, THEIR NUKES

    3 weeks ago | makesaerosense.com | Chris Pocock

    One of the most interesting aspects of the UK’s Strategic Defence Review (SDR), which finally surfaced earlier this week, was the suggestion that the UK should invest “in the range of capabilities necessary to deter nuclear use at any scale.” The review also stated that “more F-35s will be required over the next decade.

  • USAF STICKS TO ITS U-2 DIVESTMENT PLAN

    1 month ago | dragonladytoday.com | Chris Pocock

    The US Air Force is still committed to divestment of the Dragon Lady, despite concerns expressed by the Combatant Commanders (COCOMS) and the Congress, which forced a pause in retirement actions during the current fiscal year. In written testimony to the Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) this month, the USAF leadership said: “The ability to win high-end conflicts requires transitioning to connected, survivable platform investment and accepting short-term risks by divesting legacy ISR assets.

  • THE SDR - WHERE’S THE STRATEGY?

    1 month ago | makesaerosense.com | Chris Pocock

    The UK’s carrier strike group is on its way to Asia on a flag-waving deployment that has removed 2,100 British sailors and four warships from NATO and the European theatre for eight months. Meanwhile, the war in Ukraine grinds on, as does British-led attempts to cobble together a “peacekeeping” force that might help separate the two sides. Have we got our priorities right? Don’t expect a “strategic” answer from the latest Strategic Defence Review (SDR).

  • THE SKUNK WORKS HELPED DESIGN A HIGH-ALTITUDE SPYPLANE FOR THE UK

    2 months ago | dragonladyhistory.com | Chris Pocock

    In a little-known development in the mid-1950s, the UK produced its own high-altitude spyplane with assistance from the US. The Meteor jet fighter was modified with longer wings and re-engined with two P&W J57-31s, that were  being used to power the RB-57D and the U-2. It was designated the Meteor PR19, and the Lockheed Skunk Works helped British aircraft company Armstrong Whitworth to design its wings.  Well actually, they didn’t, and the PR19 never existed. But were you fooled?

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Chris Pocock
Chris Pocock @UKdragonChris
11 Jun 25

Keep 'em flying, says Congress again! https://t.co/25ZVjBmRNb

Chris Pocock
Chris Pocock @UKdragonChris
6 Jun 25

My latest post: Putting an American nuclear bomb on Britain's F-35s is problematic and unwise. The integration of new British weapons on the jet is already a problem. https://t.co/LZ3qOFH9qA

Chris Pocock
Chris Pocock @UKdragonChris
22 May 25

So the USAF is still determined to get rid of the U-2. We'll see... https://t.co/F8v3WOzn2v