Aaron Mehta is editor in chief of Breaking Defense. He previously served as deputy editor and senior Pentagon correspondent for Defense News, as well as a staff writer for the non-profit Center for Public Integrity. Over his career, Mehta has interviewed dozens of defense leaders from around the globe, covering the intersection of policy, industry and technology at the highest national security levels.
Mehta has a particular interest in nuclear issues, foreign weapon sales and NATO issues. Originally from outside Boston, Mass., he now lives in the Washington, D.C. area.
amehta@breakingmedia.com
“This will easily be Buy American Act [compliant]. It’s not even going to be close,” L3Harris CEO Chris Kubasik said of the effort with Brazil’s Embraer.
“We are more looking how we can increase the stocks from previous levels. But we are looking into if you can take even more from our stocks in the short term to support Ukraine. And to then to refill it,” Norway’s defense minister said this week.
“Even if the Russians are able to mobilize significant numbers, think about how many months [it is] going to take for them to emerge as operational formations,” Ben Hodges, the former head of US Army forces in Europe, told Breaking Defense.
“China has a much more difficult military problem from the standpoint of, they have to accomplish one of the most difficult military events that you would have to do,” said Gen. Kenneth Wilsbach. “If I was them, I’d be worried. If I was a [Chinese] military commander, I’d be worried about 2027.”
Long-term, the service still seeks to understand what is actually the root cause of the issue, and “finding and implementing a materiel solution,” according to a spokeswoman.
With Sweden and Finland NATO-bound and Denmark loosening defense restrictions, the Nordic nations “get more places to play, to develop a defense policy,” Morten Bødskov said while visiting Washington.
Increased spending in Europe will likely “increase the amount of competition between European and US defense companies,” says Leonardo DRS CEO William Lynn.
The memo, obtained by Breaking Defense, reverses course on four previously planned downgrades for the SDO/DATT for the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Iraq, as well as the role of the United States Security Coordinator for Israel and the Palestinian Authority (USSC).
Amos Gilead, a retired general officer for the IDF, told Breaking Defense, “Especially at this time, this decision is a mistake. It is a mutual American and Israeli interest to strengthen the US influence on the relations between Israel and the Palestinian authority.”
“Enlarging NATO is exactly the opposite of what Putin envisioned when he ordered his tanks to invade Ukraine,” Sen. Bob Menendez, D-N.J., chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said ahead of the vote.
“You always have to be careful when we streamline a process,” David Norquist, recently installed as president and CEO of the National Defense Industrial Association, told Breaking Defense.
Any missile defense capabilities heading to the region are notable in the wake of a new agreement between Israel and a number of Arab nations around missile defense.
With Russian engines out of the picture, there’s a new Medium Launch Vehicle on the horizon that is US sourced with a fairing sized to launch constellations.
With Russian engines out of the picture, there’s a new Medium Launch Vehicle on the horizon that is US sourced with a fairing sized to launch constellations.
