Asset Finance & Alternatives in APAC & Beyond
Aviation Finance, Alt Asset Finance in APAC & Beyond
Your exclusive gateway to the latest developments across transportation and space, and most importantly, how to finance it all - debt, equity, and defi! We follow and forecast where the money’s at.
Join us as we navigate through the latest roundup to uncover key developments across the region.
**Nothing in this article is intended to be or should be construed as legal or financial advice.**
Summary
Financing & Investments: France Partners Drive Digital Payment Expansion in Malaysia; AIXTRON to Build Semiconductor Equipment Plant in Penang; Animoca Brands Funds AI Agent Platform Projects; Indonesia and China Link QR Payment Systems Across Borders; Kredivo Acquires Majority Stake in Vietnam’s Timo Digital Bank; Malaysian Tech Firms Secure Export Deals at Tokyo and SEMICON Events; PDG Secures $856 Million for Indonesia Data Center Campus; Bithumb and SSI Group Partner on Vietnam Crypto Exchange Launch; and Thailand Approves $29 Billion in Digital and Infrastructure Projects
Environmental Sustainability: ADB and Japan Launch Energy Security and Transition Initiative; EU, Brazil, and China Form Global Carbon Market Coalition; New Zealand Appoints Xpansiv Subsidiary to Run ETS Auctions; Pakistan and China Explore Green Finance Cooperation; Philippines Solar Project Reaches $300 Million Financial Close; and Singapore, Philippines Sign Carbon Credit Cooperation Agreement
Aviation: Australia Introduces National Jet Fuel Reserve and Stockholding Rules; India Approves Emergency Credit Support for Airlines; AirAsia Orders 150 Airbus A220 Aircraft; SATS Raises Stake in Chinese Airline Catering Firm; ITP Aero Expands Manufacturing Facility in India; Taiwan Airlines Maintain Fuel Surcharge Levels Despite Rising Costs; and Vietjet Signs Aviation Cooperation Deals in India
Advanced Air Mobility: Skyportz Unveils Vertiport Surface Design to Address Safety Challenges; China Issues Pilot Licences for AS700 Airship Operations; Bamboo-Based Composite Drone Completes First Flight in Tianjin; SkyDrive Forms Osaka Vertiport Consortium for eVTOL Services; Hyundai and KAI Partner on Electric Air Mobility Aircraft; and Skyports Signs Gold Coast Agreement for AAM Infrastructure Development
Marine: Australia Advances Port Of Hastings Offshore Wind Project; OOCL Challenges US Maritime Regulator In Court; PIL, PSA And DNV Launch Singapore Green Shipping Service; South Korea Launches Autonomous Ship AI Data Platform; and DP World Extends Laem Chabang Port Concession
Space: China Tianzhou-9 Undocks From Tiangong Station; China Prepares Tianzhou-10 Cargo Launch To Tiangong; China Tests Orbital Satellite Refuelling With Yuxing-3 06; Skyroot Aerospace Becomes India Space Unicorn After US$60 Million Round; Pixxel And Sarvam Plan India Orbital Data Centre Satellite; and Japan Startup Sends Gundam-Inspired Robot To ISS
Financing & Investments
Digital finance, AI platforms, and infrastructure investment are accelerating across Asia, with Malaysia expanding tokenized payment systems through IDEMIA and Thailand approving large-scale data centre projects worth tens of billions.
France-Malaysia
France-based IDEMIA Secure Transactions has partnered with Payments Network Malaysia to support the expansion of digital payments in Malaysia through the MyDebit network. Under the collaboration, banks will enable MyDebit cards for mobile payments using IST’s tokenization platform integrated with PayNet’s domestic payment infrastructure.
💡The rollout will involve 11 banks, with AmBank becoming the first to allow customers to add MyDebit cards to mobile wallets for proximity and in-app payments. IST said its tokenization platform replaces card details with digital tokens to support secure NFC, online and in-app transactions. The system also uses AES 256 encryption to help protect payment data and reduce cybersecurity risks.
Germany-Malaysia
AIXTRON SE has signed an agreement with Malaysian Investment Development Authority to establish a greenfield manufacturing facility in Penang, Malaysia. The plant will be located at Bandar Cassia Technology Park on an 8.5-acre site and will include office space, cleanrooms, and logistics areas for producing semiconductor deposition equipment used in advanced chip manufacturing.
💡The facility is designed to support production of equipment for next-generation semiconductors used in power electronics, communications, optoelectronics, and computing applications.
Hong Kong
Animoca Brands will invest up to $10 million in early-stage projects built on its AI agent platform, “Minds by Animoca Brands.” The program targets developers in gaming, finance, productivity, and social applications, provided they integrate Minds as a core component. Minds allows users to deploy persistent AI agents without managing backend infrastructure.
💡Selected projects will receive funding, technical support, and access to Animoca Brands’ ecosystem of more than 600 Web3-related projects. The company said capital will be allocated based on project quality rather than a fixed timeline. Minds is positioned as part of an “agentic web” concept, where autonomous AI agents operate and interact across digital systems.
Indonesia-China
Indonesia and China have launched a cross-border QR payment linkage connecting Indonesia’s QRIS payment system with Chinese payment platforms through Alipay+ and UnionPay International. The initiative, introduced under the guidance of Bank Indonesia and People’s Bank of China, allows users of Alipay and the UnionPay App to make payments at more than 40 million QRIS merchants in Indonesia, while QRIS-supported Indonesian payment apps can scan over 80 million Alipay and UnionPay QR codes in China.
💡The system is intended to support local currency transactions and improve payment access for tourism and trade.
Indonesia-Vietnam
Indonesia-based BNPL firm Kredivo has acquired a 99.99 percent stake in Timo Digital Bank, expanding its presence in Vietnam and strengthening its regional digital financial services business. The acquisition follows a recent funding round backed by investors including Mizuho Bank, Amazon, Asia Partners, Square Peg Capital and Cathay Innovation.Existing Timo shareholders Phoenix Holdings and VinaCapital will retain minority stakes in the expanded Kredivo Vietnam.
💡Founded in 2015, Timo provides digital banking services including payments, savings and deposits. Timo will continue operating under its current brand as Kredivo Group’s digital banking business in Vietnam, while Kredivo Vietnam will rebrand as Timo Credit. Kredivo Group operates consumer credit, digital banking and SME financing businesses in Indonesia, Vietnam and Thailand.
Malaysia-Japan
Malaysian technology firms generated more than MYR 450 million ($115.09 million) in potential export deals at SusHi Tech Tokyo 2026, according to Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation. The opportunities were linked to demand for AI, mobility and autonomous technology solutions. Among the agreements announced was a collaboration between CitySageand Japan’s Eight Knot to explore AI-driven maritime mobility applications. MDEC said it arranged more than 150 meetings between Malaysian companies and international partners across sectors including fintech, robotics and semiconductors.
💡Separately, Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation said potential exports worth MYR 126.42 million ($32.33 million) were recorded at SEMICON Southeast Asia 2026. Malaysia’s electrical and electronics sector contributed MYR 711.44 billion ($181.93 billion), or 44.3 percent of total exports in 2025, led by semiconductor devices and integrated circuits.
Singapore-Vietnam
Singapore-based Princeton Digital Group said it has secured about $856 million in financing for the development of its 120-MW JC3 data center campus in Indonesia. The financing includes a fully underwritten $456 million syndicated facility from banks including DBS, HSBC, Maybank, SMBC and Standard Chartered, with an additional accordion facility of about $400 million under discussion. PDG said the financing was arranged under its Green Finance Framework.
💡The JC3 campus is being developed in Greenland International Industrial Center in Bekasi Regency, Greater Jakarta, with an initial investment of $1 billion.
South Korea-Vietnam
South Korean virtual asset exchange Bithumb and SSID, a subsidiary of SSI Securities, have signed an agreement to jointly launch and operate a virtual asset exchange business in Vietnam. The partnership includes potential strategic equity investment by Bithumb in an SSID-designated entity, subject to future regulatory approval for virtual assets in Vietnam.
💡The companies said they will cooperate on exchange infrastructure, wallet and custody systems, security, risk management, regulatory support and product development. The move follows Vietnam’s 2025 resolution to pilot cryptocurrency exchanges for five years.
Thailand
Thailand’s Board of Investment (BOI) has approved six projects worth a combined 958 billion baht ($29 billion), led by large-scale digital infrastructure investments, including major data center expansion by TikTok System (Thailand). The TikTok-related project, valued at 842 billion baht ($25 billion), will expand servers and data processing capacity across Bangkok, Samut Prakan, and Chachoengsao to support growing digital demand and AI-driven services.
💡Other approved projects include a 46 billion baht data center by Skyline Data Center and Cloud Services and a 24.6 billion baht facility by Bridge Data Centers IIO (Thailand) in Chonburi. The remaining approvals cover renewable energy, recycling, wind power, and fertilizer production projects.
Environmental Sustainability
Climate cooperation is shifting into implementation mode, with the EU–Brazil–China carbon market coalition and the Singapore–Philippines carbon credit agreement both signalling growing alignment on operational emissions trading systems.
Asia-Japan
Asian Development Bank and Japan have launched a joint initiative called ACCEL (Action for Creating Energy Security for Long-term Resilience) to help countries and businesses in Asia and the Pacific manage rising energy costs while supporting longer-term energy transition efforts. The program is aimed at addressing fuel price volatility, supply constraints, and liquidity pressures affecting developing economies and private sector firms, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
Under ACCEL, ADB will deploy existing financing tools such as credit lines, guarantees, and policy-based loans to support businesses facing funding stress, alongside technical assistance for SMEs. The initiative will also fund renewable energy, energy efficiency, and conservation projects to improve long-term energy resilience.
💡Japan will contribute through ADB-administered trust funds and coordinate with institutions including Japan International Cooperation Agency and Japan Bank for International Cooperation, with further implementation details to be announced later.
EU-Brazil-China
The European Union, Brazil, and China have jointly launched the Open Coalition on Compliance Carbon Markets to improve cooperation on carbon pricing systems worldwide. The initiative is intended to strengthen the transparency, integrity, and effectiveness of domestic carbon markets, including emissions trading systems and carbon taxes, in support of global climate goals under the Paris Agreement.
The coalition was formally launched in Florence, Italy, with participation from senior officials representing the EU, China, and Brazil. New Zealand and Germany are the first countries to join as members, with further participation expected. Brazil will chair the coalition for the first two years, while China and the European Commission will serve as co-chairs.
💡The platform will focus on issues such as carbon accounting standards, monitoring and verification systems, and improving the quality of carbon credits, with a work plan expected to be finalized in 2026.
New Zealand
New Zealand has appointed a new operator to run auctions under its Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS), following an open tender process by the Ministry for the Environment. The contract has been awarded to CBL Markets, an Australian subsidiary of Xpansiv, which will take over auction delivery from September 2026.
💡Under the transition plan, NZX will continue operating the June 2026 auction before handing over responsibilities. The new contract runs through to the end of 2030, with an option to extend to 2035. The Ministry said Xpansiv brings experience in operating environmental markets across multiple jurisdictions and will work with NZX to ensure a smooth transition for ETS participants.
Pakistan-China
Pakistan is seeking to expand cooperation with China on climate finance, focusing on developing bankable green projects through investment, technology transfer, and carbon market mechanisms. The discussions took place in Islamabad between Pakistan’s Federal Minister for Climate Change and Environmental Coordination Musadik Malik and Ma Jun, head of the Institute of Finance and Sustainability.
The talks highlighted China’s experience in building green finance systems and scaling climate-related investments, alongside Pakistan’s need to attract funding for adaptation and mitigation projects due to its exposure to extreme weather events. Pakistan also outlined plans for a “Green Fields” initiative aimed at linking climate-focused entrepreneurs with investors.
💡Both sides discussed potential cooperation in areas such as renewable energy, sustainable agriculture, and low-carbon production systems.
Philippines
A 440 MWp solar project in Ilagan City, Isabela in the Philippines has reached financial close, backed by a roughly US$300 million international financing package. The project is being developed by TotalEnergies and Nextnorth, and is supported by a lender group including ING Bank, Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation, and Standard Chartered. It is currently under construction and is expected to be fully operational by the end of 2027.
More than half of the project’s output will be sold under long-term contracts with retail electricity suppliers AdventEnergy and PrimeRES, while the remainder will be supplied to the national grid through the Philippines’ Green Energy Auction Program.
💡The deal is described as the largest internationally financed solar project in the country to date, with legal advisory provided to lenders by Norton Rose Fulbright. The structure is positioned as a blended offtake model combining contracted and auction-based revenue streams.
Singapore-Philippines
Singapore and the Philippines have signed the Philippines’ first Article 6 Implementation Agreement under the Paris Agreement during ASEAN Climate Week in Manila, establishing a legally binding framework for cross-border carbon credit generation and transfer.
💡The agreement enables approved mitigation projects in the Philippines to generate carbon credits for transfer to Singapore, subject to Article 6 rules on authorization and accounting. It is expected to channel climate finance into local projects with potential impacts on employment, energy security, and pollution reduction.
Aviation
The aviation sector is navigating short-term financial stress while committing to long-term capacity growth, as India introduces emergency airline credit support and AirAsia places a major order for 150 Airbus A220 aircraft.
Australia
Australia will require minimum stockholdings equivalent to 50 days of jet fuel under new federal fuel security measures aimed at strengthening supply resilience. The policy is part of a $10 billion Australian Fuel Security and Resilience package, which includes $3.2 billion to establish a government-owned fuel reserve of about one billion litres covering jet fuel and diesel.
💡Energy Minister Chris Bowen said the reserve would supplement private-sector minimum stock obligations, which will also be increased, and address Australia’s relatively low strategic fuel storage compared with other International Energy Agency members.
India
India has approved an emergency credit support package of up to INR50 billion (US$529 million) for domestic airlines under the Emergency Credit Line Guarantee Scheme (ECLGS) 5.0. The measure, announced by the Ministry of Civil Aviation on May 6, 2026, increases earlier planned support of INR40 billion.
💡The scheme provides a 90% government credit guarantee on airline loans, with a cap of INR10 billion per borrower plus an additional INR5 billion linked to equity infusion. Loans will have a tenure of up to seven years, including a two-year repayment moratorium, and will be available to eligible airlines with standard loan accounts as of March 31, 2026. .
Malaysia-Canada
AirAsia has signed a purchase agreement for 150 Airbus A220-300 aircraft, marking the largest single firm order for the A220 programme and its entry as a new customer for the aircraft type. AirAsia will also become the launch customer for a new A220 cabin layout with up to 160 seats. The aircraft will be deployed across ASEAN and Central Asia routes, with larger aircraft redeployed to longer-haul services.
💡The A220 is designed to carry 100–160 passengers over distances of up to 3,600 nautical miles and is certified to operate with up to 50% sustainable aviation fuel, with Airbus targeting 100% SAF compatibility by 2030.
Singapore-China
SATS Ltd has increased its stake in Nanjing Weizhou Airline Food Corp to 90% after acquiring an additional 40% interest from founder Luo Bo. The move consolidates SATS’ control of the China-based frozen aviation meals producer, which supplies airlines across the country.
💡SATS first invested in NWA in 2019 with a 50% stake and said the business has since more than doubled revenue as Chinese carriers expand use of frozen inflight meals.
Spain-India
ITP Aero has held a groundbreaking ceremony for an expanded manufacturing facility in Hyderabad, India. The company said it has operated in the city for 15 years and is expanding its local footprint and production capacity.
💡The new site is scheduled to be operational in 2027 and will manufacture components for commercial aviation engines, including fabricated and machined parts. It is expected to create more than 350 jobs over five years, in addition to the company’s existing manufacturing workforce in the region.
Taiwan
Taiwan’s major airlines will keep international passenger fuel surcharges unchanged this month at US$45 for short-haul routes and US$117 for long-haul routes. EVA Airways and Starlux Airlines confirmed the decision on Monday, while China Airlines also said it would maintain current levels in line with the Civil Aviation Administration’s pricing mechanism.
The unchanged surcharges remain in place despite higher aviation fuel costs, which Taiwan’s state-run refiner CPC Corp said averaged US$208.78 per barrel, far above the US$40 benchmark used for surcharge calculations.
💡Airlines said they are absorbing most of the additional fuel expenses, with EVA Airways estimating it covers about 85% of long-haul extra costs and 66% of short-haul costs, while Starlux said it absorbs roughly 66% and 43% respectively.
Vietnam-India
Vietjet has signed cooperation agreements with India’s GMR Airports Limited and Bird Group to explore joint work in aviation, logistics, infrastructure, technology, tourism, and related services.
💡Under the agreements, Vietjet and GMR Airports Limited will examine collaboration in airport development, logistics, aviation services, and smart airport projects, while the partnership with Bird Group will focus on ground handling, training, aviation technology, and travel and hospitality services.
Advanced Air Mobility
Advanced air mobility is moving into early operational planning, with SkyDrive forming an Osaka vertiport consortium and Skyports advancing infrastructure agreements in Australia to support future eVTOL networks.
Australia
Skyportz has released details of its “Aeroberm” vertiport surface technology, which it says is designed to address operational challenges for electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, including rotor downwash, noise, and lithium-ion battery fire risks.The company said computational fluid dynamics analysis conducted with Swinburne University indicates the modular fractal panel design can dissipate rotor energy more effectively than conventional surfaces, while also reducing noise impacts.
💡Skyportz added that the system is being positioned for potential use in new or retrofit vertiport sites, as regulators in the U.S. and Europe increase focus on safety and environmental requirements for urban air mobility infrastructure.
China
China has issued its first batch of pilot licences for the Xiangyun AS700, its first domestically developed crewed airship produced by the Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC). The licences were granted by the Civil Aviation Administration of China to four pilots trained under AVIC’s Special Vehicle Research Institute.
💡The airship is designed for applications including tourism, emergency response, aerial surveying, and urban operations. Authorities said the milestone establishes a domestic training pipeline for airship operations, with 44 units already on order and plans to scale up training capacity as demand for commercial deployment grows.
China
A tilt-rotor UAV developed with bamboo-based composite materials has completed its maiden flight in Tianjin. The International Centre for Bamboo and Rattan said it is the first fixed-wing UAV globally to use more than 25% bamboo-based structural materials.
The drone was jointly developed by the centre, the Beihang University Ningbo Innovation Research Institute and Long Bamboo Technology Group. It has a wingspan of over 2.5 metres, weighs about 7 kilograms, can take off vertically, and has a flight endurance of more than one hour.
💡Researchers said the bamboo-based composite structure makes the aircraft over 20% lighter than comparable carbon-fibre designs and reduces material costs significantly, with further testing conducted to meet airworthiness standards.
Japan
SkyDrive Inc. has formed Japan’s first consortium for the commercial operation and shared use of an eVTOL vertiport in Osaka. The group includes Osaka Prefecture, Osaka City, Osaka Metro Co., Ltd., Soracle, and Marubeni Corporation, and will support the planned commercialisation of the Osakako Vertiport in Osaka Bay.
The consortium will focus on establishing operational frameworks for electric vertical takeoff and landing services and integrating existing infrastructure such as helicopter landing sites to support future air mobility services.
💡SkyDrive said the initiative builds on prior demonstration flights in the Osaka area and aims to advance preparation for commercial eVTOL operations in the region.
South Korea
Hyundai Motor Group and Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) have signed a memorandum of understanding to jointly develop advanced air mobility (AAM) aircraft based on electrified propulsion systems. The agreement brings together Hyundai’s electric vehicle powertrain capabilities, through its Supernal unit, and KAI’s aircraft design and manufacturing expertise.
💡The collaboration covers joint aircraft development as well as wider coordination on supply chains, certification processes, and commercialisation strategies. Supernal will lead design and engineering of the AAM platform, while KAI contributes airframe development and aerospace systems, with both companies aiming to position the project for global civilian air mobility markets.
UK-Australia
Skyports Infrastructure has signed a memorandum of understanding with the City of Gold Coast to explore the development of advanced air mobility infrastructure in the region. Under the MoU, Skyports will assess potential vertiport sites, support planning and regulatory processes, and develop infrastructure for a future network, with the intention of operating it over time.
💡The proposed network is intended to support eVTOL services, with potential routes aimed at reducing travel times between key locations such as the Gold Coast Airport and central business and tourism areas. Skyports said it is also in discussions with airport operators and other stakeholders on potential site integration as part of early-stage planning.
Marine
Maritime and port sectors are increasingly focused on decarbonisation, digitalization, and regulatory pressure, while also facing rising legal and operational complexity, as seen in OOCL’s challenge to US maritime enforcement and Singapore’s rollout of verified green logistics systems.
Australia
The Victorian government will invest more than A$124 million to advance planning and environmental approvals for the proposed Victorian Renewable Energy Terminal at the Port of Hastings. The funding will go toward completing the Environmental Effects Statement process for the port, which is designed to handle turbine assembly and staging before offshore installation.
💡The terminal forms part of Victoria’s offshore wind rollout strategy, aimed at strengthening energy supply and sustaining Gippsland’s role in the state’s energy system. An auction for the first 2GW of offshore wind capacity is expected in August, with projected output sufficient to power about 1.5 million homes.
Hong Kong-USA
Orient Overseas Container Line (OOCL) has filed a legal challenge in a US federal court seeking to halt proceedings by the Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) and overturn a $45m penalty related to alleged violations of the US Shipping Act. The carrier argues that the FMC’s use of administrative law judges to adjudicate enforcement cases is unconstitutional and that such disputes should instead be heard in federal courts with jury trials.
💡The case stems from an FMC ruling that found OOCL liable for failing to meet space commitments and for retaliatory conduct during pandemic-era shipping disruptions, resulting in a record reparations order of about $45.6m linked to the bankruptcy estate of Bed Bath & Beyond.
Singapore
Pacific International Lines (PIL), PSA International, and DNV have introduced a joint green logistics service in Singapore focused on reducing Scope 3 emissions for transhipped cargo. The initiative links emissions reductions across shipping, port handling, and inland logistics, with pilot operations planned for May.
💡PIL will contribute vessel operations and fuel-related measures, while PSA will focus on lower-emission terminal and landside activities. DNV will support the system with digital tracking and independent verification of emissions data, enabling more consistent reporting for cargo owners moving through the Port of Singapore.
South Korea
South Korea’s Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries (MOF) and Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy (MOTIE) have launched a four-year Autonomous Ship AI Data Platform project to support development of autonomous navigation technologies. Around 25 organizations, including shipbuilders and shipping companies, have signed agreements to share operational data for training AI systems used in functions such as collision avoidance, route optimisation, and equipment failure prediction.
💡The programme runs until 2029 with a total budget of about US$23.9 million, combining public funding and private investment. The Korea Research Institute of Ships and Ocean Engineering (KRISO) will lead technical implementation, standardising and collecting data across navigation, engine systems, and digital twin applications.
UAE-Thailand
DP World has secured a five-year extension to operate the B5 container berth at Thailand’s Laem Chabang Port through its joint venture Laem Chabang International Terminal (LCIT). The concession runs from May 2026 to April 2031 and maintains the company’s role at Thailand’s main deep-sea port, which is the country’s largest container gateway.
💡DP World said the extension will support ongoing investment in terminal capacity and electrification, including the rollout of electric handling equipment and expanded inland logistics links connected to the port.
Space
Space activity is shifting from exploration toward operational capability and infrastructure use, with China expanding station logistics and in-orbit servicing tests while India and Japan advance commercial launch and robotic applications alongside emerging orbital computing concepts.
China
China’s Tianzhou-9 cargo spacecraft has successfully undocked from the Tiangong space station and entered independent flight. The vehicle will later conduct a controlled re-entry, with any remaining debris expected to fall into a designated safe ocean area.
💡Launched in July 2025 from the Wenchang Spacecraft Launch Site in Hainan, Tianzhou-9 delivered supplies including crew provisions, propellant, and experimental equipment for the orbiting station. The mission supports ongoing operations of China’s space station programme, with the cargo craft now completing its final phase before atmospheric re-entry.
China
China’s Tianzhou-10 cargo spacecraft, mounted on a Long March 7 Y11 rocket, has been moved to the launch pad at the Wenchang Space Launch Site in Hainan, entering the final preparation phase ahead of its scheduled launch. The China Manned Space Agency said the spacecraft and ground systems are in stable condition, with pre-launch checks and integrated testing now underway.
The mission will deliver around 6.3 tonnes of supplies to the Tiangong space station, including crew provisions, propellant, experimental equipment, and a third next-generation extravehicular spacesuit. The payload also includes scientific experiments and equipment for microgravity research.
💡After launch, Tianzhou-10 will support ongoing operations for the station’s current astronaut crews and replace the recently departed Tianzhou-9 cargo vehicle.
China
China’s Yuxing-3 06 satellite has completed in-orbit tests of robotic arm-assisted refuelling and docking technologies.Developed by Emposat subsidiary Sustain Space, the satellite carried out simulated propellant transfer operations using a flexible robotic arm designed for precise rendezvous and docking tasks in orbit.
💡The mission tested multiple control modes, including autonomous operation, real-time ground guidance, and vision-based servo control. Researchers say the system is intended to support future in-orbit servicing concepts, where dedicated spacecraft could refuel or maintain other satellites, reducing the need to decommission spacecraft once onboard fuel is exhausted.
India
Skyroot Aerospace has raised US$60 million in a funding round co-led by GIC and Sherpalo Ventures, with participation from investors including Arkam Ventures, BlackRock-managed funds, Playbook Partners, and family offices.
💡The company said the round brings total funding to US$160 million and values it at about US$1.1 billion, making it India’s first space “unicorn.” Skyroot said the capital will support scaling its Vikram-1 launch vehicle programme, expanding manufacturing capacity in Hyderabad, and advancing development of its next-generation Vikram-2 rocket.
India
Pixxel and Sarvam AI have announced a partnership to develop India’s first orbital data centre satellite, called Pathfinder.The 200 kg-class satellite, scheduled for launch as early as Q4 2026, will combine Pixxel’s hyperspectral imaging payload with onboard AI compute provided by Sarvam AI.
💡The system is designed to process Earth observation data in orbit using GPU-based computing, reducing reliance on ground processing and enabling near real-time analysis for applications such as environmental monitoring and infrastructure tracking.
Japan
A Japanese startup, Space Entry Co., is preparing to send a spherical space robot inspired by the anime Mobile Suit Gundam to the International Space Station (ISS) as early as spring next year. The 21 cm device, named “Everyone’s Haro,” is designed to test autonomous movement, communication, and interaction in microgravity conditions.
Once aboard the ISS’s Kibo module, the aluminum robot will use propeller-based propulsion to move in all directions, while onboard sensors, a camera, microphone, and LED indicators will support navigation and communication with astronauts.
💡The project aims to evaluate how small autonomous systems could operate in space and support future robotic applications.
**Nothing in this article is intended to be or should be construed as legal or financial advice.**