US President Trump defended a new MOU with Iran, stating it's unfair for Tehran to lack ballistic missiles if regional rivals possess them. He differentiated missile threats from nuclear ones, with follow-up talks planned.
India is enhancing its air defence capabilities with the "Sudarshan Chakra" project, a multi-layered architecture to counter ballistic missiles and aerial threats from China and Pakistan. Recent successful tests of its Ballistic Missile Defence system and deployment of Akash missile systems highlight these efforts.
Bahrain's Interior Ministry activated air raid sirens and urged calm amid a missile threat. Kuwait's Ministry of Defense confirmed intercepting hostile missiles and drones. Iran's Revolutionary Guard claimed responsibility for missile strikes on US military bases in Kuwait, citing retaliation for an attack on Qeshm Island.
The US Navy has requested fiscal 2027 funding for the Joint Laser Weapon System (JLWS), a new Army-Navy collaboration designed to counter cruise missiles as part of the Golden Dome missile defense. The system will start at 150 kilowatts with potential to scale to 300kW+, with the Navy planning nearly $95 million in FY2027 and $676 million total through 2031. The program draws on Lockheed Martin's HELIOS naval laser experience, with contracts expected by March 2027.
