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: Peak XV Raises $1.3B in New Capital Commitments; World Bank Group Funds Digital Infrastructure via Investment in Zetrix AI Berhad; VentureTECH Sdn Bhd Invests in Cybersecurity and Connectivity with Delta Spike and IX Telecom; ICON1C Raises S$10M for Growth and M&A; DBS Bank and Granite Asia Launch $110M AI IPO Fund; The Invention Lab and Qube Research & Technologies Invest in RIDM; and Unity Software Explores Sale of China Unit
Environmental Sustainability: Australasian Centre for Corporate Responsibility Wins Greenwashing Case; Santos Limited Claims Not Misleading; Envision Ships First Commercial Green Ammonia; ASCI Launches Greenwashing Awareness Campaign; Tata Motors to Deploy Hydrogen Trucks at V.O. Chidambaranar Port Authority; Indonesia Freezes Environmental Permits; Earth Journalism Network Funds Climate Reporting; and IFC Invests in Seraya Partners Fund
Aviation: Middle East Airspace Closures Disrupt Aviation; Works Begin on Melbourne Airport Rail Link; DGCA Grounds VSR Aviation Learjets; AirAsia MOVE Reports Strong Growth; Teleport Expands Logistics Operations; StateSquare Capital to Acquire Advanced Integrated Manufacturing Corp. Pte Ltd; and Singapore Airlines Supports Air India Transformation
Advanced Air Mobility: AutoFlight Partners with Yueyang City on Low-Altitude Ecosystem; Wuhan eVTOL Showcase Features Prototypes; DJI Challenges FCC Drone Restrictions; ePlane Company Seeks Funding; Supernal Restructures Workforce; and Skyports and Korean Air Develop eVTOL Platform
Marine: AHTS Vessel Order for Chizhou Tianyu Shipbuilding and Hong Kong Word Engineering Company; Indian National Shipowners’ Association Joins International Chamber of Shipping; Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha Creates Shipmanagement Holdings; Nam Cheong Wins Offshore Vessel Contracts; Philippine Offshore Wind Grid Agreements; and OceanSTAR Elite Secures FPSO Contract
Space: International Space Centre Advocates Human Spaceflight Participation; HEO and UNSW Canberra Space Launch RPO Mission; Gilmour Space Technologies Joins Landing Pad; Hypersonix Tests Suborbital Hypersonic Flight; China Manned Space Agency Plans 2026 Missions; Space One Postpones Kairos Rocket Launch; and Korea AeroSpace Administration Expands Space Investment
Financing & Investments
Investment continues to prioritize AI and digital infrastructure in Asia, reflecting confidence in long-term technological growth, while software and digital businesses pursue strategic restructuring and portfolio optimization as competitive conditions evolve.
India
Peak XV has closed $1.3 billion in new capital commitments across its India Seed, India Venture and APAC funds, adding to substantial uninvested capital in its existing Growth fund. The firm said the raise reflects continued backing from global limited partners, including major endowments and foundations, and will support founders from early stage through IPO and long-term scale across India and the broader Asia-Pacific.
💡Peak XV said it will maintain its focus on AI, fintech and consumer sectors while expanding into deeptech.
Malaysia
The World Bank Group, through the International Finance Corporation, will invest $40 million in Zetrix AI Berhad to expand blockchain-based Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) and AI-enabled services in Malaysia and emerging ASEAN markets. The funding will support new applications integrated with Malaysia’s MyDigital ID and the Malaysia Blockchain Infrastructure, aimed at improving digital inclusion, service delivery and economic efficiency.
💡Zetrix AI’s offerings include digital ID verification, trade digitalization and tokenization of real-world assets, with plans to scale across ASEAN and other emerging markets.
Malaysia
VentureTECH Sdn Bhd has invested MYR28 million ($7.16 million) in cybersecurity firm Delta Spike Asia Sdn Bhd and digital connectivity provider IX Telecom Sdn Bhd to strengthen Malaysia’s cyber resilience and cross-border digital infrastructure.
💡The investment will support Delta Spike’s managed detection and response platform and regional expansion, while backing IX Telecom’s Telco-as-a-Service model aimed at improving global connectivity and enterprise digital services.
Singapore
ICON1C has raised S$10 million ($7.92 million) from stakeholders and about 20 long-standing members to fund expansion and acquisitions, opting against traditional institutional capital. The Singapore-based premium experience platform will deploy proceeds toward five to six targeted M&A deals over the next 24 months, strengthen central operating capabilities and expand flagship brands globally, as it works toward a potential IPO in the medium term.
💡Founded in 2025 and operating in Monaco, Singapore and Abu Dhabi, the group focuses on profitable, cash-generative assets within what it describes as the growing global premium experience economy.
Singapore
DBS Bank and Granite Asia have launched a $110 million AI-focused IPO fund to invest in high-growth Asian AI companies and accelerate their path to public markets. The three-year partnership will channel capital from DBS wealth clients into IPO opportunities and related growth investments, leveraging Granite Asia’s track record in guiding companies from private markets to listings. The fund aims to support Asia’s expanding AI ecosystem, where thousands of AI-driven companies have emerged in recent years and now require expansion capital.
💡The collaboration also includes plans for additional funds and co-investment structures targeting technology transformation and non-dilutive capital solutions for Asian businesses.
South Korea-Singapore
The Invention Lab and Qube Research & Technologies completed a seed investment in Singapore AI computing startup RIDM, backing its dataflow computing architecture aimed at addressing AI memory bottlenecks. RIDM, founded by engineers from the National University of Singapore and holding three international patents, is pursuing commercialization and proof-of-concept work with QRT to validate its architecture for high-performance computing applications.
💡RIDM’s architecture, called DODA, targets the “Memory Wall” problem in AI and HPC by simplifying spatial compilation and enabling development in C++. The companies are testing FPGA acceleration to demonstrate low-latency performance, while RIDM operates with a lightweight IP-focused structure and plans strategic collaborations following technology validation.
USA-China
Unity Software is considering a sale of its China unit at a valuation above $1 billion. with advisers sounding out potential buyers. Talks are preliminary and no deal is in place. Unity has operated in China since 2012, with its engine used in titles such as Tencent’s Honor of Kings, and the business generates annual revenue in the hundreds of millions of dollars. The review comes after the company’s shares fell more than 60% since early 2026, despite Q4 2025 revenue rising sequentially to $503.1 million.
💡Unity China’s backers include Alibaba Group, China Mobile and ByteDance, with some holding redemption rights tied to performance targets. Analysts say a divestment could ease capital strain as competitive pressure mounts following Google DeepMind’s release of Genie 3, an AI model that generates interactive 3D worlds from text or images, raising concerns over demand for traditional game engines.
Environmental Sustainability
Courts and regulators are tightening oversight of environmental claims; investment in green hydrogen and sustainability initiatives continues, reflecting ongoing momentum toward decarbonization alongside rising demands for transparency.
Australia
The Federal Court of Australia ruled in favour of Australasian Centre for Corporate Responsibility in its greenwashing case against Santos Limited, dismissing claims that the company’s references to “clean energy,” net-zero targets and hydrogen plans were misleading.
💡The court held that the representations in Santos’ 2020 Investor Day materials and climate reports would not reasonably be interpreted as guarantees of zero emissions or unconditional future outcomes, and that the company’s disclosures about its emissions strategy and use of carbon capture and offsets were not deceptive.
China-South Korea
Envision has completed the world’s first commercial shipment of green ammonia from its Chifeng facility in Inner Mongolia to South Korea’s LOTTE Fine Chemical, marking the first end-to-end delivery across the green ammonia value chain from renewable hydrogen production to international maritime transport. The cargo originates from Envision’s renewable energy–powered production base in Chifeng, which synthesizes hydrogen and ammonia using a fully renewable power system and AI-driven energy orchestration, demonstrating commercial viability of zero-carbon ammonia exports.
💡The facility currently produces 320,000 tons of green ammonia annually, with exports beginning in Q4 2025 and capacity projected to expand to 1.5 million tons per year by 2028. The shipment was highlighted as a benchmark case for clean industrial infrastructure at the World Economic Forum,
India
Advertising Standards Council of India has launched its first influencer-driven consumer awareness campaign targeting greenwashing and dark patterns in digital advertising. The initiative under ASCI Academy aims to educate consumers on evaluating sustainability claims, recognising misleading eco-labels and identifying deceptive digital design practices such as hidden charges and interface tactics that steer purchasing decisions.
💡Digital creators will produce educational content to help audiences make informed choices and critically assess advertising claims.
India
Tata Motors, in partnership with the V.O. Chidambaranar Port Authority, will deploy 40 hydrogen internal combustion engine trucks at the Thoothukudi port under a government-backed project, with deliveries scheduled by 2028. The deployment follows an MoU to trial hydrogen prime movers and phase in H2 ICE trucks supported by a 2 MW electrolyser and onsite hydrogen refuelling infrastructure, aimed at decarbonising port logistics operations.
💡The trucks will use the Prima 55-tonne prime mover powered by a 6.7-litre hydrogen ICE engine producing 216 kW and 1,200 Nm of torque, with an estimated range of up to 500 kilometres per refuelling and a 38-tonne payload capacity. The engine is manufactured by Tata Cummins, a joint venture between Tata Motors and Cummins.
Indonesia
The Indonesian Ministry of Forestry has frozen environmental permits for 80 mining operations as part of a compliance review covering 1,358 coal and nickel extraction units across 14 provinces deemed environmentally critical. About 250 units have been inspected so far, and officials say more suspensions may follow as evaluations continue, particularly where operations are linked to environmental damage such as flooding. The review aligns with Government Regulation No. 22/2021, which prioritizes out-of-court resolution of environmental disputes before litigation.
💡Authorities estimate enforcement actions could generate IDR5–6 trillion ($298–358 million) in state revenue and aim to create a deterrent effect for non-compliant operators.
Indonesia and Thailand
Earth Journalism Network launched four seed grants under its Business and Climate Media Initiative to support new reporting on business and climate issues in Indonesia and Thailand. The grants aim to help media outlets develop sustained investigative coverage of climate impacts and corporate environmental claims, reflecting Southeast Asia’s vulnerability to climate change and the region’s expanding private sector influence on emissions and sustainability.
💡Recipients include Narasi, which will investigate greenwashing and environmental impacts of industries, and Bisnis Indonesia, which will report on business and policy dynamics in waste management. In Thailand, Prachatai will examine clean energy transitions and carbon markets, while Cloud and Ground will produce long-form reporting on sustainable forestry and reforestation beyond symbolic tree-planting efforts.
Southeast Asia
The International Finance Corporation has committed $25 million to Seraya Partners Fund I to back sustainable infrastructure in Southeast Asia. The equity investment will anchor the fund’s emerging markets sleeve, targeting decarbonization, connectivity and inclusive growth projects in Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam. Impact will be tracked through metrics such as renewable energy generation and digital capacity expansion.
💡The sleeve marks Seraya’s first dedicated allocation to emerging Southeast Asian markets and will invest alongside a developed Asia-Pacific sleeve to link regional value chains and support job creation.
South Korea-Canada
Hyundai Motor Group has proposed building hydrogen fuel-cell corridors in Canada as part of an industrial package linked to its bid in the Canadian Patrol Submarine Project, valued at up to ₩60 trillion ($44.4 billion). The plan envisions three to four hydrogen networks supporting rail and heavy-duty transport, positioning energy infrastructure investment alongside defense procurement to strengthen the consortium’s proposal and expand Canada’s clean-transport capabilities.
💡The submarine competition has narrowed to a final contest between a South Korean consortium led by Hanwha Oceanand Germany’s ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems.
Aviation
Aviation markets face operational disruptions and structural shifts, from airspace closures in the Middle East to regulatory action and infrastructure investment. Growth at AirAsia MOVE, Teleport, and Singapore Airlines illustrates industry resilience, while strategic acquisitions and infrastructure projects point to longer-term expansion and modernization.
Australia
Works have begun on enabling the long-planned rail connection to Melbourne Airport, with construction starting on an expanded interchange at Sunshine Station. The $4.1 billion project will untangle the rail junction, add new tracks and platforms, and realign existing lines to create space for the airport rail link, which will connect the airport to the metropolitan network and regional services.
💡The works include six kilometres of new track, two rail bridges and infrastructure upgrades to support the future airport line. A new station will also be built at Albion as part of the realignment, while Sunshine Station will receive a longer concourse and additional platforms to integrate airport services with the Metro Tunnel and regional rail.
Global
Commercial aviation across the Middle East was heavily disrupted after military hostilities linked to the conflict involving Iran prompted widespread airspace closures. Airports in Dubai and Abu Dhabi reported missile strikes and operational suspensions, while hubs such as Doha also closed. Major carriers including Emirates, Qatar Airways and Etihad Airwayscancelled thousands of flights as countries such as Israel, Iran, Iraq and neighbouring states restricted airspace, leaving hundreds of thousands of passengers stranded or diverted.
💡International airlines responded by suspending services across the region. Air India halted Middle East routes, while Turkish Airlines and Lufthansa paused flights to multiple destinations. Air France, Iberia, Wizz Air and Cathay Pacific Airways also cancelled operations. The European Union Aviation Safety Agency advised carriers to avoid affected airspace, underscoring the broader impact on global travel and aviation networks.
India
Directorate General of Civil Aviation has grounded four Learjet aircraft operated by VSR Aviation following an audit triggered by a January crash that killed five people at Baramati airstrip. The audit found non-compliances in airworthiness and operational procedures, and the aircraft will remain grounded until standards are restored and a root cause analysis is reviewed. The regulator also issued deficiency reports and will intensify oversight, introducing stricter compliance and transparency requirements for non-scheduled operators.
💡The action follows multiple accidents involving VSR Aviation aircraft and broader safety concerns in India’s non-scheduled aviation sector. DGCA is implementing new measures including online disclosure of aircraft age and maintenance history, a safety ranking system for operators, and tougher penalties for procedural breaches. Operators must strengthen weather awareness, training, and maintenance compliance, while senior management will be held accountable for systemic safety failures.
Malaysia
AirAsia MOVE, the digital arm of Capital A, reported 2025 revenue of more than MYR641 million ($165 million), with EBITDA of MYR84 million and net operating profit of MYR65 million, translating to profit after tax of over MYR54 million. In Q4, revenue surged to MYR300 million, tripling quarter on quarter and nearly doubling year on year, driven by its B2B segment, which accounted for about 55% of revenue. Quarterly EBITDA reached MYR45 million and NOP MYR40 million, with margins supported by low marketing spend and lower interest costs.
Excluding B2B, flight transactions rose 12% quarter on quarter and gross booking value (GBV) climbed 28% on higher average spend. Ancillary attach rates were 23% above peer OTAs, while partnerships with VietJet and IndiGo expanded inventory. Stays conversion improved to 2.3% from 1.9% a year earlier, lifting transactions 2% and GBV 18% year on year.
💡Duty Free GBV jumped 157% following launches in the Philippines and Indonesia, as the company invests in content, technology and a virtual concierge to drive user growth and retention.
Malaysia
Teleport, the logistics arm of Capital A, reported fourth-quarter 2025 revenue of MYR367 million ($94.45 million), up 10% year on year despite a 4% decline in Asia-Pacific market yield. Quarterly volume rose 19% to 102,688 tons, while parcels surged 165% to 63 million, with a record daily peak of 974,000 parcels. Net operating profit reached MYR5.2 million ($1.34 million), improving MYR7.5 million from a year earlier.
For FY2025, Teleport posted record volume of 347,885 tons (+18%) and 167 million parcels (+99%), lifting revenue 11% to MYR1.2 billion. Full-year NOP hit MYR18.6 million, marking a MYR40 million turnaround from a MYR21 million net loss in FY2024, supported by cost controls and refinancing of a loan from Deutsche Bank in Q3.
💡The company said $50 million in pre-IPO growth capital from HPS Investment Partners will fund expansion as it scales its asset-light model integrating third-party airlines, AirAsia belly space and dedicated freighters.
Singapore
StateSquare Capital has agreed to acquire a controlling stake in Advanced Integrated Manufacturing Corp. Pte Ltd (AIM), a Singapore-based aerospace and defense electronics manufacturing services provider. Financial terms were not disclosed, with closing expected by the first quarter of 2026.
StateSquare said it will back AIM’s organic expansion and fund acquisitions in Europe and North America to build a larger independent EMS platform serving global aerospace and defense customers.
💡Founded in 1999, AIM operates in Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia and the United Kingdom, delivering flight-critical electronic and mechanical manufacturing solutions from prototyping to testing.
Singapore-India
Singapore Airlines said it remains committed to supporting the transformation of Air India alongside owner Tata Sonsdespite continued losses from the investment. Losses from associated companies widened to S$178 million in the December 2025 quarter, reflecting a full-quarter recognition of Air India’s results and ongoing restructuring efforts as the carrier strengthens its network and operational reliability.
💡Group revenue rose 5.5% year on year to a record S$5.5 billion on 6.3% higher passenger traffic, driven largely by growth at low-cost subsidiary Scoot. Net profit fell 68.9% to S$505 million due to the absence of a prior-year S$1.1 billion non-cash gain from the disposal of Vistara during the Air India merger. The carrier expects passenger demand to remain healthy but cited uncertainty in cargo markets amid geopolitical and trade volatility.
Advanced Air Mobility
Advanced air mobility development is accelerating in China through initiatives; prototype demonstrations and infrastructure partnerships globally indicate growing technical validation, even as regulatory and funding challenges shape commercialization pathways.
China
AutoFlight has partnered with Yueyang City in Hunan Province to build a low-altitude economy ecosystem leveraging eVTOL aircraft for logistics, tourism and emergency services. The agreement involves local development entities and aims to create a water-land-air operational network integrating cultural and transport nodes around regional assets such as Dongting Lake and Yueyang Tower.
💡The initiative follows a phased rollout prioritizing cargo and suburban operations before passenger services, with plans for a regional assembly and delivery centre in Yueyang. AutoFlight intends to attract complementary industries in manufacturing, data services and finance to establish a broader low-altitude economy value chain, while pilot demonstrations of zero-carbon eVTOL applications provided operational validation for logistics and tourism scenarios.
China
A showcase in Wuhan featured multiple eVTOL prototypes, including the Sparrow-X2 from Wuhan Fosenix General Aviation Co and a 1.2-ton eVTOL from E-HAWK Technology. The Sparrow-X2 is a six-seat aircraft with medical configurations and a reported range of up to 1,200 kilometers using a range extender, while the E-HAWK model features a ducted fan configuration.
💡Both demonstrations highlighted applications such as medical transport and urban air mobility as the platforms undergo testing and potential commercialization.
China-USA
DJI has filed a petition with the Federal Communications Commission challenging a US ban that blocks new DJI drone models from being sold in the country. The company asked the US Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit to review the FCC’s order, arguing the blacklist was imposed without proper authority or due process and that regulators have not identified specific national security evidence against DJI products.
💡The FCC’s action placed DJI on a “Covered List” restricting foreign telecommunications equipment deemed to pose security risks, limiting US market access for consumers, businesses and public safety users. DJI argues the ban lacks transparency and procedural fairness, citing independent security audits and claiming there is no proof its drones enable espionage.
India
The ePlane Company is in advanced talks to raise $40–50 million in a funding round expected to be co-led by deep-tech investor Speciale Invest. The capital will support product development, regulatory certification and preparation for commercial deployment of its eVTOL air taxi platform as the Chennai-based startup advances urban air mobility solutions.
💡The funds are intended to accelerate prototype testing, engineering expansion and certification with aviation authorities while strengthening manufacturing readiness.
South Korea
Supernal has laid off most of its workforce, reducing staff by roughly 300 people and leaving about 70–80 employees to maintain limited operations, according to media reports and LinkedIn posts from senior executives. The cuts follow a broader restructuring after the company paused development of its aircraft programme in 2025 as it reassessed commercial timelines and funding priorities.
💡Supernal had previously developed a technology demonstrator that completed its first flight in March 2025 and aimed to advance an S-A2 prototype later in the decade.
UK-South Korea
Skyports Infrastructure and Korean Air have signed an MoU to develop a technology platform for managing eVTOL operations, aiming to enable safe and scalable commercial advanced air mobility services. The partnership will integrate Skyports’ Vertiport Automation System with Korean Air’s flight operations and traffic management technology to support operational interoperability and real-world deployment.
💡The collaboration focuses on joint testing and validation of operational frameworks, including vertiport operations and air traffic integration, to address gaps in commercial eVTOL implementation. Both companies intend to create systems that support future AAM networks, building on Skyports’ vertiport developments in markets such as Dubai and Korea and Korean Air’s aerospace and operational experience.
Marine
Marine investment and industry restructuring continue, with new shipbuilding orders and offshore projects alongside efforts to improve governance and operational efficiency.
China-Hong Kong
Chizhou Tianyu Shipbuilding and Hong Kong Word Engineering Company have signed a contract to build a 64.8-metre anchor handling tug supply vessel, marking Guichi Shipbuilding Industrial Base’s first foreign trade order of 2026. The AHTS will feature 1,400-tonne deadweight capacity, DP2 dynamic positioning and SMART notations for offshore operations, targeting deep-sea and shallow-water applications in China and international markets.
💡The deal builds on prior cooperation, including a 2025 order for two heavy-duty deck carriers, underscoring steady growth in export shipbuilding from Guichi Shipbuilding Industrial Base.
India
Indian National Shipowners’ Association has become a full member of International Chamber of Shipping, reflecting India’s growing role in global maritime affairs and international shipping policy discussions.
💡The membership gives Indian shipowners representation in global policymaking forums as the country expands its maritime industry and seeks greater influence in shipping governance and standards.
Japan
Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha is creating K Line Ship Management Holdings to oversee its shipmanagement units under a single structure from April 1. The aim is to centralise technical oversight and resource sharing while individual companies continue daily vessel operations.
💡The change responds to decarbonisation, digitalisation and workforce pressures in shipmanagement, seeking faster coordination and stronger management standards—similar to integration moves by peers in the industry.
Malaysia
Nam Cheong has won $64.5 million in contracts to build four offshore support vessels—its first shipbuilding order in over a decade—covering dive support vessels and unmanned remotely operated landing crafts for delivery in 2027–28.
💡The remotely operated craft will use satellite control and auto-docking technology developed with SeaOwl Group, supporting offshore logistics and fleet renewal as ageing vessels approach replacement cycles.
Philippines
A consortium of Seawind Asia, Stream Invest and Triconti ECC Renewables has secured grid connection agreements for 1.65GW of offshore wind across three Philippine sites (450MW Frontera Bay, 600MW Guimaras Strait, 600MW Guimaras Strait II), removing a key transmission barrier and enabling participation in the government’s upcoming renewable energy auction.
💡The projects support Philippines’ goal of expanding renewable generation to 35% by 2030 and 50% by 2040 as it shifts away from imported fossil fuels.
Singapore-Malaysia
OceanSTAR Elite has secured a 15-year lease, operation and maintenance contract with Petronas Carigali for an FPSO supporting the Sepat redevelopment offshore Malaysia. The project covers engineering, construction and commissioning of a newbuild FPSO based on OceanSTAR’s standardised hull design, capable of processing at least 30,000 barrels per day with gas handling and future injection capabilities. Work is in engineering, with long-lead procurement under way.
💡Petronas previously awarded offshore transport and installation work for the project to Vantris Energy, scheduled for completion in 2029.
Space
Space programs are expanding across commercial, research and government sectors, with initiatives advocating human spaceflight engagement and missions advancing in-orbit testing. National investments and experimental launches reflect sustained momentum toward broader space capabilities despite operational delays and technological risk.
Australia
The International Space Centre at The University of Western Australia is leading a cross-sector campaign urging government support for human spaceflight participation to strengthen Australia’s role in the global space economy and deepen collaboration with the European Space Agency.
💡The proposal, backed by universities, industry and political stakeholders, argues that involvement in human spaceflight could drive economic and research opportunities while positioning Australia within international space supply chains and technology partnerships.
Australia
HEO and researchers from UNSW Canberra Space will conduct Australia’s first active-propulsion Rendezvous and Proximity Operations mission using HEO’s Continuum-1 satellite as an in-orbit test platform. The project, supported by Defence Trailblazer funding, enables fuel-powered proximity maneuvers to validate algorithms for efficient orbital operations and close-range satellite inspection.
💡The mission aims to generate high-fidelity data for space domain awareness and sensor calibration while advancing sovereign RPO capabilities.
Australia
Gilmour Space Technologies has joined the Defence and Space Landing Pad at Lot Fourteen in South Australia to engage with the state’s space ecosystem and strengthen collaboration with regulators and industry partners as it develops launch and satellite capabilities. The move places the Queensland-based launch provider within a regional innovation hub alongside government and research organisations, supporting coordination as it scales operations.
💡The Landing Pad offers workspace and business support for space and defence firms seeking a local presence, enabling companies to integrate with South Australia’s technology and research networks.
Australia-USA
An Australian-built hypersonic aircraft flown by Hypersonix was deployed into space during a suborbital test mission launched by Rocket Lab from the United States. The mission carried the DART AE scramjet demonstrator into a hypersonic flight environment to validate high-speed propulsion performance under real operational conditions, supporting ongoing research into reusable hypersonic systems and advanced aerospace capabilities.
💡By testing the vehicle in a suborbital trajectory at several times the speed of sound, the flight provided engineering data intended to improve technology readiness for defence and commercial aerospace applications as hypersonic systems progress toward operational maturity.
China
China Manned Space Agency plans two crewed space missions and one cargo resupply flight in 2026, with astronauts from Hong Kong and Macao expected to fly and one astronaut from Pakistan scheduled for a short-term payload specialist mission aboard the Chinese space station. The agency also targets a crewed lunar landing before 2030 as development of the Long March-10 rocket, Mengzhou spacecraft and Lanyue lander advances, alongside construction of supporting infrastructure at the Wenchang space launch site and ground systems for lunar operations.
💡CMSA reported 267 research projects deployed on the station.
Japan
Space One Co cancelled the planned launch of its Kairos rocket unit No.3 from Spaceport Kii in Kushimoto due to unfavourable weather conditions. The company cited weaker-than-expected air flow at altitude, raising concerns that potential flight-direction changes could create excessive structural stress on the rocket. The launch has been postponed to Wednesday or later as conditions are reassessed.
💡This is the latest delay for the mission following earlier schedule changes and the failed launches of Kairos units No.1 and No.2 in 2024. The Kairos No.3 rocket, a three-stage solid-fuel vehicle with a liquid-fuel adjustment engine, remains in preparation for flight once weather and operational conditions meet safety requirements.
South Korea
Korea AeroSpace Administration reported that the government plans to invest 1.1605 trillion won in the space sector in 2026, funding projects including the fifth launch of the Nuri rocket and development of a lunar lander as part of the second phase of lunar exploration. The budget, exceeding 1 trillion won for a second consecutive year, also supports launch infrastructure for solid-fuel systems and initiatives to strengthen space risk preparedness and situational awareness capabilities.
💡Satellite information utilisation projects will receive 129.2 billion won across 42 programmes spanning meteorology, ocean monitoring and environmental applications, with new AI-driven services aimed at expanding data usage.
**Nothing in this article is intended to be or should be construed as legal or financial advice.**