Aaron Mehta

Washington, D.C.

Editor in Chief at @breakingdefense. Shameless Boston sports nerd, foe of bad seasonal takes and the F-22 restart. EMAIL: amehta at breakingmedia dot com

Articles

Beyond 'branding': AUKUS nations look to outside partners for Pillar II tech

1 week ago | breakingdefense.com | Aaron Mehta

WASHINGTON — With open questions about what countries could join the AUKUS Pillar II technology development effort, a top US admiral this week had a message: No one should get too worked up about the branding. “The reality is, we’re already doing AUKUS Pillar II stuff with many of our allies and partners,” Vice Adm. Rob Gaucher, the US Navy’s top submariner, said.
A $1 trillion defense budget? Trump, Hegseth say it's happening

2 weeks ago | breakingdefense.com | Aaron Mehta

WASHINGTON — Speaking Monday evening in the White House, President Donald Trump made a surprise announcement: The US appears poised for its first $1 trillion defense budget request. “We also essentially approved a budget, which is in the [vicinity], you’ll like to hear this, of a trillion dollars,” Trump said while meeting with Israeli President Benjamin Netanyahu. “$1 trillion, and nobody’s seen anything like it.
Colombia picks Saab Gripen for next fighter jet

3 weeks ago | breakingdefense.com | Jonas Olsson |Aaron Mehta

Stockholm — A letter of intent has been signed between the Republic of Colombia and the Kingdom of Sweden for the purchase of Saab Gripen fighters, according to Colombian President Gustavo Petro. The fleet of aircraft to be acquired is completely new, “with the latest technology, already deployed in Brazil, and is a Saab 39 Gripen brand,” Petro wrote in a translated statement on X.
India puts Metrea on contract for commercial air refueling, invests in helicopters

3 weeks ago | breakingdefense.com | Aaron Mehta

WASHINGTON — New Delhi has put private American firm Metrea under contract to provide air refueling for Indian Air Force training operations, as part of a military aviation modernization effort that also includes spending billions on new helicopters.
Philippines cleared to buy F-16s at estimated $5.6B

3 weeks ago | breakingdefense.com | Aaron Mehta

WASHINGTON — The US State Department has approved a potential Foreign Military Sale of 20 F-16 fighters to the Philippines, with an estimated price tag of $5.58 billion. The approved package, which covers 16 F-16C Block 70/72 jets and four F-16B Block 70/72 fighters, comes just days after Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth visited Manilla and pledged greater defense ties between the two countries.
Warning Russia has 'initaitive' in Ukraine, Sweden announces record $1.6B defense aid package

3 weeks ago | breakingdefense.com | Jonas Olsson |Aaron Mehta

STOCKHOLM — Sweden today unveiled its 19th, and largest ever, military aid package to date for Ukraine, totaling 16 billion Swedish kronor ($1.6 billion). The Swedish government announced on Monday that the bulk of this package will fund new orders from Swedish and European defense industries, aimed at bolstering Ukraine’s military capabilities amid the ongoing war. Defense Minister Pål Jonson painted a grim picture of the situation in Ukraine.
Rafael saw record sales in 2024, with almost half from outside Israel

3 weeks ago | breakingdefense.com | Seth J. Frantzman |Aaron Mehta

JERUSALEM — Israel’s Rafael Advanced Defense Systems saw a 27 percent growth in sales in 2024 compared to the year before, according to company figures released this week. Sales were $4.8 billion in 2024, with around half of that to international customers, the company said in a statement distributed to media. The company also has an order backlog of $17.76 billion.
Hanwha adds Penske Australia as subcontractor on Redback IFV

4 weeks ago | breakingdefense.com | Aaron Mehta

AVALON AIR SHOW — The Australian arm of South Korean defense giant Hanwha today signed an agreement with Penske Australia for the “assembly, testing, and supply” of 129 engines for Australia’s Redback Infantry Fighting Vehicles. The deal, signed at the Avalon Air Show (where, despite the name, land vehicles were in attendance) is the next step in the Australian military’s LAND 400 Phase 3 effort to get Redbacks into service for its soldiers.
Sweden targets $30B increase in defense spending, to hit 3.5% of GDP by 2030

4 weeks ago | breakingdefense.com | Jonas Olsson |Aaron Mehta

STOCKHOLM — Sweden is planning a jump in defense spending to 3.5 percent of its GDP, in line with what the nation’s prime minister expects will be a new NATO-wide spending target. Ulf Kristersson said a press briefing today that his “qualified guess” is that NATO would set the 3.5 percent target at the alliance’s summit in July. Sweden is already planning to hit that mark “within five years,” he said.
Australia's Ghost Bat eyes live air-to-air weapons test by end of year

1 month ago | breakingdefense.com | Aaron Mehta |Michael Marrow

AVALON AIR SHOW — Australia expects to shoot a live weapon off its MQ-28 Ghost Bat before the end of the year, according to manufacturer Boeing’s defense chief at this year’s Avalon Air Show. “What we’re going to do this year is, we’re going to accelerate into a weapon shot” from the drone, Boeing Defense, Space & Security interim President and CEO Steve Parker said.

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Aaron Mehta @AaronMehta

10 Apr 25

RT @davidshepardson: Statement on incident at DCA involving lawmakers onboard https://t.co/xKWm89103T

Aaron Mehta @AaronMehta

9 Apr 25

We broke out the graphics package for yesterday's Sea Air Space daily video. But to understand what is happening here, you need to click. https://t.co/MjTuqbfDIO https://t.co/4TaBd9m6KX

Aaron Mehta @AaronMehta

7 Apr 25

RT @halbritz: “This reporting is wrong but also we are making cuts but also we might increase end strength but also we’re getting leaner”…