Counter-UAS Procurement: The U.S. Marine Corps ordered 10 V2X Tempest mobile counter-drone vehicles in a $19.06M deal, moving the system from demos toward an operational fleet with training and support. Drone Defense at the Front: U.S. forces ran layered low-altitude drone drills at Osan Air Base, integrating Avenger and Stinger teams to protect sorties near the North Korean border. North Korea Escalation: Pyongyang test-fired a ballistic missile that flew about 700 km days before major U.S.-South Korea exercises, keeping pressure on regional air and missile defenses. Regional Security & Industry: Germany is reactivating five former barracks across four states to expand capacity for its new conscription model, alongside plans to raise defense spending and push contractors to deliver faster. Defense-Tech Growth: South Korea is fast-tracking a special law to nurture dual-use security startups, targeting drones/robots, defense AI, sensors, space/aerospace, and cybersecurity/quantum. Gulf Connectivity Race: Gulf states are racing to build alternative subsea routes for AI-driven data flows, with Qatar’s FIG cable aiming to bypass Suez and Hormuz constraints. Defense-Linked Legal Fight: The U.S. unsealed indictments against Mexico’s CJNG members accused of seeking weapons in the Czech Republic in exchange for fentanyl and meth. Acquisition Watch: Joby agreed to buy Resonant Sciences for about $500M to scale its defense radar and low-observability business.