Defense Budget Push: U.S. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth urged Congress to approve a $1.5T FY2027 military budget at the renaming of Joint Base Charleston to Joint Base Lindsey Graham, pairing a $1.15T NDAA with about $350B in supplemental funding. Missile Defense Industry: The Pentagon is expanding SM-3 interceptor production with new Boeing and RTX agreements aimed at easing component bottlenecks and keeping Aegis stocks replenishable through sustained operations. Middle East Maritime Tensions: The UAE blamed Iran for an attack on an ADNOC vessel in the Strait of Hormuz, calling it piracy and warning it won’t deter UAE freedom-of-navigation efforts. Air War Developments: Russia says it shot down 180 drones over multiple regions including Rostov and the Black Sea. U.S.-Iran Pilot Dispute: Iran claims three pilots captured by Qatar have been held for six months without family contact, while Qatar denies the allegation. Regional Military Signaling: Poland staged one of its largest recent Armed Forces Day parades in Warsaw, featuring K2 tanks and NATO partner aircraft amid the Ukraine backdrop. Defense Community Outreach: Malaysia’s MINDEF highlighted civil-military cooperation via its “Jiwa Murni MADANI” program in Alor Gajah with health, training, and local projects. Recruiting & Readiness: U.S. Army EOD soldiers supported New Jersey State Fair recruiting, showcasing specialized explosive-hazard careers to the public.