About Tim Ripley

Tim Ripley - March 2003Tim Ripley has been writing on defence issues since 1990, for a wide range of British and international publications. He has reported from conflict zones in the Balkans and Middle East, as well as major defence and aerospace industry exhibitions around the world. Recent assignments include the conflicts in Afghanistan, Iraq, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait Croatia, Bosnia, Kosovo and Macedonia, the Farnborough, Paris, Dubai and Singapore Airshows, NATO Headquarters in Brussels, The Hague war crimes tribunal and the Pentagon in Washington DC.

His news reporting and features have appeared in the mainstream news media (The
Sunday Times
, The Economist, The Scotsman) as well as specialist defence publications (Jane’s Defence Weekly, Jane’s Intelligence Review, Jane’s Sentinel, Air Forces Monthly, Air International, Defence Helicopter, Unmanned Vehicles, Flight International, Flight Daily News, World Air Power Journal, International Air Power Review).

Tim has also edited the UK sections of Jane’s armed forces directories and World Air Forces Directories of Flight International Magazine. He is aviation editor of Military Logistics International and aviation correspondent for the Arab Defence Journal.

He is a prolific author of books on military and defence subjects. Recent titles have covered modern conflicts, historical subjects and military technology.

Tim Ripley is a prolific author of books on military and defence subjects. Recent titles have covered modern conflicts, historical subjects and military technology.

His recent books are Operation Aleppo (2018) and Little Green Men (2021).

He has examined the wars in the former Yugoslavia in Air War Bosnia (Airlife 1996), Operation Deliberate Force (CDISS 1999) and Conflict in the Balkans 1991-2000 (Osprey 2001). Other conflict studies include Security Forces in Northern Ireland 1969-92 (Osprey 1993) and Desert Storm Special: Land Power (Osprey 1991).

Military technology was profiled in Bombs Gone! Aircraft Ordnance in Action (1994), Modern Strike Aircraft (Salamander 1992), Modern US Army (1992), Jane’s Modern Military Helicopters (Harper Collins 1997).

The grim details of frontline combat were the subject of Bayonet Battle (Sidgwick & Jackson, 1999), The Whites of their Eyes (Sidgwick & Jackson 1998) and Mercenaries: Soldiers of Fortune (1997).

World War Two German military history has become a specialty. His Steel Storm: Waffen-SS Panzer Battles on the Eastern Front 1943-45, (Sutton, 2000) and Steel Rain: Waffen-SS Panzer Battles on the Western Front 1944-45 (Brown 2001) received critical acclaim. Wehrmacht (Fitzroy) was published in spring 2002, along with Elite Units of the Third Reich.

Patton Unleashed (Brown Reference Group) chronicles the relentless advance across France by the US Third Army led by the famous General George Patton was published in 2003.

Air War Iraq (Pen & Sword), which profiles the role of air power in the US-led invasion of Iraq was published in 2003.