Aaron Mehta

Aaron Mehta was deputy editor and senior Pentagon correspondent for Defense News, covering policy, strategy and acquisition at the highest levels of the Defense Department and its international partners.


  • USAF Looks to Outsource Wideband Satcom Ops
    USAF Looks to Outsource Wideband Satcom Ops

    The US Air Force is considering handing day-to-day operations of its Wideband Global Satcom (WGS) constellation to a commercial partner by 2016, a top service official said Wednesday.

  • UTC Boss: Sikorsky No Longer a Good Fit
    UTC Boss: Sikorsky No Longer a Good Fit

    United Technologies is looking to spin off its Sikorsky subsidiary after concluding the helicopter manufacturer is no longer a fit for the company.

  • Boeing, Saab Unveil Ground Launched SDB
    Boeing, Saab Unveil Ground Launched SDB

    Boeing and Saab have teamed up to develop a Ground Launched Small Diameter Bomb (GLSDB) program, with three successful test launches of the new system completed last month.

  • Interview: USAF Gen. Frank Gorenc
    Interview: USAF Gen. Frank Gorenc

    A year after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, no one is asking Gen. Frank Gorenc if Europe is still relevant for the USAF.

  • Planning Begins for USAF Next-Gen Air Dominance
    Planning Begins for USAF Next-Gen Air Dominance

    The US Air Force is weeks away from the start of a deep-dive process that will eventually decide what technologies and capabilities it will invest in to ensure air dominance in the world of 2030.

  • USAF Looks to Global Hawk Upgrades
    USAF Looks to Global Hawk Upgrades

    After multiple attempts to end the Global Hawk Block 30, the US Air Force has now included the high-altitude long-endurance unmanned system in two straight budget requests, giving a sense of stability to the program — and allowing operators to turn their eyes to future upgrades.

  • Carlisle: No Decisions on A-10 Follow On
    Carlisle: No Decisions on A-10 Follow On

    A weeklong summit on the close-air support (CAS) mission did not lead to any major decisions about a next-generation replacement for the A-10, the head of Air Combat Command told reporters March 6.

  • USAF Eyes Cost-Plus Bomber Contract
    USAF Eyes Cost-Plus Bomber Contract

    Whoever wins the right to produce the Air force’s next-generation bomber should expect to receive a cost-plus contract, the service’s top acquisition official told a Congressional hearing Wednesday.

  • Total Force Report in, USAF Eyes Next Steps
    Total Force Report in, USAF Eyes Next Steps

    The US Air Force has submitted a congressionally mandated report on force structure and integration between the active, Air National Guard and reserve components, but work is already underway for the next wave of analysis on three key mission areas.

  • Rolls-Royce Opens New F-35 Engine Facility
    Rolls-Royce Opens New F-35 Engine Facility

    Rolls-Royce has opened a new repair facility for its F-35 engine components

  • USAF Looks to Outsource Wideband Satcom Ops
    USAF Looks to Outsource Wideband Satcom Ops

    The US Air Force is considering handing day-to-day operations of its Wideband Global Satcom (WGS) constellation to a commercial partner by 2016, a top service official said Wednesday.

  • UTC Boss: Sikorsky No Longer a Good Fit
    UTC Boss: Sikorsky No Longer a Good Fit

    United Technologies is looking to spin off its Sikorsky subsidiary after concluding the helicopter manufacturer is no longer a fit for the company.

  • Boeing, Saab Unveil Ground Launched SDB
    Boeing, Saab Unveil Ground Launched SDB

    Boeing and Saab have teamed up to develop a Ground Launched Small Diameter Bomb (GLSDB) program, with three successful test launches of the new system completed last month.

  • Interview: USAF Gen. Frank Gorenc
    Interview: USAF Gen. Frank Gorenc

    A year after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, no one is asking Gen. Frank Gorenc if Europe is still relevant for the USAF.

  • Planning Begins for USAF Next-Gen Air Dominance
    Planning Begins for USAF Next-Gen Air Dominance

    The US Air Force is weeks away from the start of a deep-dive process that will eventually decide what technologies and capabilities it will invest in to ensure air dominance in the world of 2030.

  • USAF Looks to Global Hawk Upgrades
    USAF Looks to Global Hawk Upgrades

    After multiple attempts to end the Global Hawk Block 30, the US Air Force has now included the high-altitude long-endurance unmanned system in two straight budget requests, giving a sense of stability to the program — and allowing operators to turn their eyes to future upgrades.

  • Carlisle: No Decisions on A-10 Follow On
    Carlisle: No Decisions on A-10 Follow On

    A weeklong summit on the close-air support (CAS) mission did not lead to any major decisions about a next-generation replacement for the A-10, the head of Air Combat Command told reporters March 6.

  • USAF Eyes Cost-Plus Bomber Contract
    USAF Eyes Cost-Plus Bomber Contract

    Whoever wins the right to produce the Air force’s next-generation bomber should expect to receive a cost-plus contract, the service’s top acquisition official told a Congressional hearing Wednesday.

  • Total Force Report in, USAF Eyes Next Steps
    Total Force Report in, USAF Eyes Next Steps

    The US Air Force has submitted a congressionally mandated report on force structure and integration between the active, Air National Guard and reserve components, but work is already underway for the next wave of analysis on three key mission areas.

  • Rolls-Royce Opens New F-35 Engine Facility
    Rolls-Royce Opens New F-35 Engine Facility

    Rolls-Royce has opened a new repair facility for its F-35 engine components

  • USAF Looks to Outsource Wideband Satcom Ops
    USAF Looks to Outsource Wideband Satcom Ops

    The US Air Force is considering handing day-to-day operations of its Wideband Global Satcom (WGS) constellation to a commercial partner by 2016, a top service official said Wednesday.

  • UTC Boss: Sikorsky No Longer a Good Fit
    UTC Boss: Sikorsky No Longer a Good Fit

    United Technologies is looking to spin off its Sikorsky subsidiary after concluding the helicopter manufacturer is no longer a fit for the company.

  • Boeing, Saab Unveil Ground Launched SDB
    Boeing, Saab Unveil Ground Launched SDB

    Boeing and Saab have teamed up to develop a Ground Launched Small Diameter Bomb (GLSDB) program, with three successful test launches of the new system completed last month.

  • Interview: USAF Gen. Frank Gorenc
    Interview: USAF Gen. Frank Gorenc

    A year after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, no one is asking Gen. Frank Gorenc if Europe is still relevant for the USAF.

  • Planning Begins for USAF Next-Gen Air Dominance
    Planning Begins for USAF Next-Gen Air Dominance

    The US Air Force is weeks away from the start of a deep-dive process that will eventually decide what technologies and capabilities it will invest in to ensure air dominance in the world of 2030.

  • USAF Looks to Global Hawk Upgrades
    USAF Looks to Global Hawk Upgrades

    After multiple attempts to end the Global Hawk Block 30, the US Air Force has now included the high-altitude long-endurance unmanned system in two straight budget requests, giving a sense of stability to the program — and allowing operators to turn their eyes to future upgrades.

  • Carlisle: No Decisions on A-10 Follow On
    Carlisle: No Decisions on A-10 Follow On

    A weeklong summit on the close-air support (CAS) mission did not lead to any major decisions about a next-generation replacement for the A-10, the head of Air Combat Command told reporters March 6.

  • USAF Eyes Cost-Plus Bomber Contract
    USAF Eyes Cost-Plus Bomber Contract

    Whoever wins the right to produce the Air force’s next-generation bomber should expect to receive a cost-plus contract, the service’s top acquisition official told a Congressional hearing Wednesday.

  • Total Force Report in, USAF Eyes Next Steps
    Total Force Report in, USAF Eyes Next Steps

    The US Air Force has submitted a congressionally mandated report on force structure and integration between the active, Air National Guard and reserve components, but work is already underway for the next wave of analysis on three key mission areas.

  • Rolls-Royce Opens New F-35 Engine Facility
    Rolls-Royce Opens New F-35 Engine Facility

    Rolls-Royce has opened a new repair facility for its F-35 engine components