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.


  • US clears Greek F-16 upgrade sale
    US clears Greek F-16 upgrade sale

    The upgrade package will bring Greece’s fleet of Block 30, Block 50, Block 52+ and Block 52+ Advanced F-16 configurations to the F-16 V standard.

  • McCarthy, Mattis call for strengthening industry ties
    McCarthy, Mattis call for strengthening industry ties

    “I want their help. We want you. We need you,” McCarthy said of his message to industry. “We’ll have all the lawyers in there so we don’t get into trouble; we don’t want anybody to put their thumb on the scale, but we need help.”

  • US clears THAAD sale to Saudi Arabia
    US clears THAAD sale to Saudi Arabia

    The U.S. State Department has cleared a potential $15 billion request for Saudi Arabia to purchase the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) missile defense system.

  • Here’s the technology in which DoD’s innovation hubs will be investing
    Here’s the technology in which DoD’s innovation hubs will be investing

    Leaders from four key Pentagon innovation centers have revealed what their groups will be focusing on in the next few years.

  • Trump elevates Cyber Command; split with NSA still an option
    Trump elevates Cyber Command; split with NSA still an option

    President Donald Trump has announced plans to elevate U.S. Cyber Command to the status of a unified combatant command, underscoring the significance of the cyberspace-focused mission on national security.

  • OMB: Pentagon should emphasize dual-use R&D spending
    OMB: Pentagon should emphasize dual-use R&D spending

    The White House wants the Pentagon to emphasize technology developments with both military and civil uses in its next budget, according to a new guidance from the Office of Management and Budget.

  • Gen. Hyten: ‘No such thing as war in cyber’
    Gen. Hyten: ‘No such thing as war in cyber’

    The U.S. cannot fall into the trap of focusing on warfighting domains when debating responses to an adversary, said Gen. John Hyten, the head of United States Strategic Command.

  • DIUx reports surge in pilot program funding
    DIUx reports surge in pilot program funding

    The Pentagon’s Defense Innovation Unit-Experimental (DIUx) awarded $71 million in funding for 37 pilot programs over the last year, and the group expects to transition its first demonstrator program to higher-rate production.

  • DIUx, SCO given special hiring and contracting authorities
    DIUx, SCO given special hiring and contracting authorities

    Two of the Pentagon’s innovation offices have been granted special authorities to help speed the hiring of staff and awarding of contracts in a move that could allow the groups to flow commercial technology into the department quicker.

  • Revealed: Trump’s $110 billion weapons list for the Saudis
    Revealed: Trump’s $110 billion weapons list for the Saudis

    The administration’s arms proposal to Saudi Arabia, previously slim on specifics, includes seven THAAD missile defense batteries, over 100,000 air-to-ground munitions and billions of dollars’ worth of new aircraft, according to a White House document obtained by Defense News.