On January 16th, Missile Defense Advocacy Alliance (MDAA) entered into a memorandum of understanding with The University of Hawaii at Manoa to develop onboard sensors for Earth-orbiting satellites. The partnership aims to advance the gathering of peaceful, scientific knowledge rather than military intelligence. The program will involve students from UH's School of Ocean & Earth Science & Technology, engineering, physics, and astronomy departments. The collaboration will focus on education, including the possibility of future executive education programs for professionals and advanced students in space sciences. The satellite-based sensors are expected to monitor various activities around the Hawaiian Islands and Pacific Ocean, such as wildfires, volcanic eruptions, and climate change impacts. The partnership follows UH's recent launch of a space tech development center and student-training hub at its Hilo campus.

On January 17th, The United States, South Korea, and Japan conducted extensive naval exercises off South Korea's Jeju island, showcasing their collective strength in response to North Korea's nuclear and missile threats. The training, involving an American aircraft carrier, aimed to enhance deterrence and response capabilities, addressing concerns about North Korea's alleged arms transfers to Russia for the conflict in Ukraine. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un's recent provocative weapons testing and threats have heightened regional tensions. Kim declared a departure from peaceful unification with South Korea and ordered a constitutional rewrite. In response to North Korea's ballistic test, the U.S. and allies expanded military exercises. Meanwhile, North Korea strengthened ties with Russia and China. Trilateral naval drills and diplomatic meetings discussed a coordinated response to North Korea's actions and potential illicit military cooperation between Russia and Pyongyang. South Korean President Yoon sought assurances from Washington regarding nuclear defense in case of a North Korean nuclear attack.

On January 21st, the United Kingdom announced a directed energy weapon had hit an aerial target for the first time in a test. The UK Armed Forces are progressing towards deploying a powerful laser weapon called DragonFire, which has successfully fired at aerial targets in a trial at the MOD’s Hebrides Range. DragonFire is a laser-directed energy weapon with a low operating cost, less than £10 ($13) per shot, making it more economical than conventional missiles. The system offers pinpoint accuracy and the ability to cut through targets at the speed of light, potentially revolutionizing air defense tasks and reducing reliance on expensive ammunition. The £100 million DragonFire program, launched in 2017, involves collaboration with industry partners MBDA, Leonardo, and QinetiQ. The recent trial builds on previous testing, and the MOD plans to transition the technology into the operational phase with a multi-million-pound program. The US is also advancing in the development of naval-based high-energy lasers.

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