The authors argue that the use of drones as a weapon of warfare is becoming more accessible to the weapon that is redefining warfare around the world. They argue that this gap is being undermined by the gap between threats and the resources and authorities we have to meet them. In the past year, there have been 12 drone incursions at New York State prisons and six drone strikes at Stewart International Airport in 2024, the first time a civilian airport in the US had to shut down due to a drone threat. The authors suggest that the capabilities built for the World Cup should not be temporary but should form a statewide infrastructure that delivers security and economic development. They also suggest that collaboration with Ukrainian and European experts in counter-drone and hybrid warfare should be a priority, alongside support for the defense against Russian aggression.