Autonomous Warfare & Drone Command: US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth unveiled a new four-star command to accelerate autonomous and robotic warfare while planning a 20% cut to generals and admirals, signaling a major shift toward drone-centric operations. US Navy Fighter Contract: Boeing’s selection for the F/A-XX sixth-generation fighter program reshapes the US aircraft “division of labour,” with Boeing leading sixth-gen work and Lockheed Martin staying dominant in fifth-gen F-35. Sovereign Satcom Push: Nokia and Iceye announced “sovereign satellite” LEO communications for governments and defense users, with first launches targeted for 2028. Counter-UAS & Drone Ecosystems: Lantronix’s Blue UAS listing adds an NDAA-compliant compute module for unmanned aircraft; JC Technology in Taiwan seeks overseas sales for a drone-based air-defense system designed to avoid Chinese components. Missile Export Momentum: India’s Defence Secretary said BrahMos exports are set to top $600M, citing new deals and agreements across Southeast Asia. UK Defence Reindustrialisation: The UK MoD pointed to a 3.2% defence spending rise to £34.1bn in 2025/26 as a boost to domestic industry and procurement for smaller firms. Maritime Autonomy Partnership: Florida Atlantic University and Blue Ops (Red Cat) will build a hub at FAU Harbor Branch for R&D, testing, and training in ocean tech and national defense. Defense Industry Deals & Tech: TB2 Aerospace introduced modular fuel and water “pods” for Marine Corps distributed refueling trials; Premier Graphene reported payment on a Mexican military waist-belt order; QTREX said independent cryogenic testing validated its quantum cryogenic interconnect performance. Sanctions & Enforcement: OFAC sanctioned entities tied to Iran’s MODAFL procurement network, while the SEC moved against private fund advisers accused of mishandling pre-IPO investments tied to firms like OpenAI and SpaceX. Markets Backdrop: Reuters reported global bond selloffs and rising yields, a macro headwind that can tighten defence and industrial financing.