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: NEO Battery Materials Secures Drone Battery Order; Huawei Launches Thailand AI Ecosystem Initiative; Visa Completes AI Agent Payment Trial; Malaysia Hong Kong Expand Fund Access; Tikva Allocell Raises Series A Funding; Novo Tellus Invests In Russell Mineral Equipment; Ropedia Raises $22 Million Funding; Ant International Expands Alipay+ Banking Network; Gorilla Raises $232 Million For AI Infrastructure; and ServiceNow Invests In BUSINESSNEXT AI Banking
Environmental Sustainability: Australia Canada UK Deepen Clean Energy Cooperation; Australia Canada India Launch Tech Partnership; ADM Capital Closes Climate Impact Fund; India Launches Hydrogen Passenger Train; Indonesia Advances Water Security Technologies; Singapore Japan Strengthen Energy Regulation; and SK KKR Launch Renewable Energy Platform
Aviation: Brisbane Airport Tests Autonomous Robot Mowers; Cambodia Explores Airport Logistics Hub; China Opens First Zero Carbon Airport; JAL, JetZero Partner on Blended-wing Aircraft Development; Sri Lanka Seeks Airport Investment; and Vietnam Canada Expand Aerospace Cooperation
Advanced Air Mobility: Vertaxi Unveils Air Ambulance eVTOL; AutoFlight Demonstrates Passenger eVTOL Kazakhstan; India Develops Indigenous eVTOL Prototype; Whitesky Orders 60 eVTOL Aircraft; SkyDrive Explores Thailand Air Mobility; New Zealand Develops Composite Aircraft Platform; South Korea Advances UAM Demonstration Plans; and Marubeni Partners On Archer VTOL Platform
Marine: Patrick Terminals Orders Hybrid Cargo Carriers; Cambodia Japan Expand Port Infrastructure; EU Considers Indian Ship Recycling Yards; Maritime Insurers Cover Autonomous Ships; South Korea Tests Robotic Ship Crew; and South Korea US Deepen Shipbuilding Partnership
Space: China Launches Hyperspectral Remote Sensing Satellite; Orienspace Advances Commercial Space Launches; China Develops Space Computing Network; China Deploys AI-Enabled Satellites; BAAS Technologies Raises Space Funding; Zenno Tests Fuel-Free Space Propulsion; NTU Fusic Explore AI Satellite Systems; and South Korea Invests In Aerospace Innovation
Financing & Investments
Funding activity highlights a strong regional shift toward AI infrastructure, intelligent automation, advanced batteries, and cross-border technology partnerships, with investors and corporates prioritising scalable platforms that support digital transformation across Asia-Pacific markets.
Canada-South Korea
Canada-based NEO Battery Materials has received a purchase order for 10,000 units of its 34Ah drone battery cells from South Korean battery pack maker PM Energy Solution. The companies are developing high-energy battery cells for PM Energy’s TeraVitz e-mobility and electric motorcycle products deployed in Vietnam and Southeast Asia.
💡PM Energy Solution provides energy storage systems and battery solutions for defence and automotive customers, while NEO Battery Materials develops silicon-enhanced lithium-ion batteries for drones, robotics, electric vehicles and energy storage systems. NEO has also secured South Korean KC certification for its 11.5Ah cell product.
China-Thailand
Huawei has partnered with Thai government bodies, telecommunications companies, AI developers, industry groups and universities to establish the Thailand AI Ecosystem Initiative, an effort to strengthen the country’s artificial intelligence capabilities and support its ambition to become a regional AI hub. The initiative focuses on developing local AI infrastructure, governance frameworks and skilled talent while encouraging collaboration between the public and private sectors.
💡The company said the program will target obstacles to wider AI adoption, including access to computing power, data, AI models, cybersecurity and workforce skills, through an industry-focused implementation framework and talent development initiatives.
China-USA
Visa and China’s Lianlian DigiTech have completed what the companies said was their first live business-to-business agentic payment transaction, with Lianlian’s AI agent, LoopXPay, autonomously sourcing a product, selecting a supplier, placing an order and completing payment within pre-set spending limits and approval rules. The transaction marks an early use of AI agents to automate procurement and payments in a single workflow.
💡LoopXPay has also been added to Visa’s Agentic Directory, which enables businesses and merchants to identify verified AI agents and supports identity verification and transaction controls for agent-driven payments. The companies said they plan to expand the use of AI agents to procurement, digital advertising optimisation and B2B platform payments, with Lianlian leveraging its cross-border payments infrastructure and Visa’s global network.
Malaysia-Hong Kong
Malaysia’s Securities Commission and Hong Kong’s Securities and Futures Commission have signed a memorandum of understanding to support mutual recognition and cross-listing of covered funds, including exchange-traded funds and real estate investment trusts. The agreement also establishes a framework to simplify dual IPO listings between the two markets.
💡The arrangement allows eligible ETFs and REITs approved in either jurisdiction to be offered through secondary listings, while enabling Bursa Malaysia-listed companies to seek secondary listings in Hong Kong. The regulators said the move aims to expand investment access, improve capital market connectivity and strengthen cross-border participation.
Singapore
Biotechnology company Tikva Allocell has raised $8 million in a Series A funding round led by Kantharos Capital to advance development of its lead cell therapy candidate for B7-H3-positive solid tumours. The proceeds will support investigational new drug (IND)-enabling studies and a planned IND submission for TAVST01, with a Phase 1 clinical trial planned in Singapore and the United States, subject to regulatory clearance.
💡TAVST01 is an allogeneic cell therapy engineered from Epstein-Barr virus-specific T cells to improve persistence in the body while targeting B7-H3, a protein found in multiple solid tumours. Tikva said the therapy is designed to overcome limitations associated with conventional donor-derived cell therapies, while its proprietary platform aims to reduce the risk of graft-versus-host disease with minimal gene editing.
Singapore
Investment firm Novo Tellus has completed an investment in Australian mining equipment and services company Russell Mineral Equipment (RME), marking its first investment in Australia. The deal supports RME’s ownership transition and brings Novo Tellus alongside Resource Capital Funds and Australia’s National Reconstruction Fund Corporation as investors in the company’s next growth phase.
💡RME, based in Queensland, develops mill relining systems and aftermarket services used by mining and mineral processing companies globally. The company said its technology helps operators improve safety and reduce downtime during mill maintenance; Novo Tellus plans to support expansion of RME’s automation capabilities and service operations.
Singapore
Ropedia, a physical AI and robotics data infrastructure company, has raised $22 million in a Pre-Series A funding round, bringing total funding to $30 million. The company will use the capital to expand data collection operations in Southeast Asia and North America, grow its teams, scale wearable hardware production and develop its AI data platform.
💡Ropedia provides tools for collecting and processing multimodal data for robotics companies, using wearable devices to capture video, depth, motion and audio. The company said its platform supports more than 20 robotics and AI model developers across North America, China and Singapore, with its hardware now in mass production.
Singapore-Hong Kong
Ant International has added Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Bank to its Alipay+ payment network, making it the platform’s first banking partner in Hong Kong. The integration allows Hang Seng Mobile App users to make QR code payments at more than 100 million merchants across over 55 countries and regions.
Ant International said Alipay+ now connects more than 50 digital wallets and financial institutions and is accepted across more than 220 markets. The company said the network enables banks to offer cross-border payment services through a single connection, with partners including banks and QR payment systems across Asia.
💡Separately, Ant International has raised about $1.2 billion in a Series A equity financing round from existing investors Ant Group, Alibaba Group and other international investors. The company said the funding will support global expansion and product development across merchant payments, account management and financial services.
UK-Indonesia, India & Thailand
Gorilla Technology Group has raised $232 million through two bond financings to support AI infrastructure projects in Indonesia, India and Thailand. The latest $125 million financing will fund the NeutraDC Batam program in Indonesia, while an earlier financing supports the company’s investment in the Yotta 2 program in India.
💡The NeutraDC Batam project is backed by a five-year AI compute infrastructure contract with expected revenue of $2.5 billion, while India’s Yotta 2 program targets deployment of more than 20,000 next-generation GPUs. Gorilla is also developing a 200MW AI data centre campus in Thailand’s Korat region.
USA-India
ServiceNow will invest $40 million in India-based BUSINESSNEXT, a banking and financial services software provider, to expand AI-driven banking operations across Asia-Pacific. The partnership will combine BUSINESSNEXT’s customer engagement and lending platforms with ServiceNow’s workflow and AI operations tools to create a unified system for financial institutions.
💡BUSINESSNEXT provides CRM, digital lending and AI workflow solutions used by more than one million users across over 75,000 branches and more than one billion customers globally. The companies said the collaboration will help banks deploy industry-specific AI solutions across customer and operational functions.
Environmental Sustainability
Governments, investors, and corporates are scaling climate-focused initiatives, with Australia, Canada, India, and the UK expanding clean technology cooperation, ADM Capital financing climate-smart land use in Indonesia, India advancing hydrogen rail, and SK Inc. and KKR building renewable energy capacity in South Korea.
Australia-Canada-UK
Australia, Canada and the United Kingdom have agreed to strengthen cooperation on clean energy transition, supply chains and electrification as they seek to improve energy security and reduce reliance on fossil fuels. The countries will work together on critical minerals, clean technologies, grid reliability and energy storage as part of efforts to support economic competitiveness and decarbonisation.
💡The three nations have also joined the global “Electrify Now” initiative, which promotes expanded clean electricity use alongside grid upgrades and energy storage development.
Australia-Canada-India
Canada, Australia and India have launched the Australia–Canada–India Technology and Innovation Partnership (ACITI) to deepen cooperation on critical and emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence, green energy and resilient supply chains. The initiative aims to leverage the countries’ respective strengths in AI research, digital infrastructure, critical minerals and clean technology to support technology development and economic security.
💡The partnership will focus on areas including AI governance, digital infrastructure, semiconductor and critical mineral supply chains, battery storage, green hydrogen and industrial decarbonization.
Hong Kong-Indonesia
ADM Capital has closed its first impact fund focused on climate-smart land-use financing in Indonesia, raising $48 million for the ADM Capital Asia Climate-smart Landscapes Fund. The blended finance fund will provide long-term credit to small and medium-sized businesses in agriculture, forestry, aquaculture and other land-use sectors.
💡The fund received commitments from institutional investors, development finance partners, foundations and family offices, including Australia’s ADI Climate Partners and support from the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation through a 50% asset-level guarantee. ADM Capital said the fund aims to expand climate-smart practices and support rural livelihoods in Indonesia.
India
India has introduced its first hydrogen-powered passenger train as part of efforts to advance low-carbon rail transport and strengthen domestic clean technology capabilities. The train, powered by a hydrogen fuel cell system, began operations on an 89-kilometre route linking Jind and Sonipat in Haryana, featuring a 1,200-kilowatt propulsion system and a dedicated hydrogen storage and refuelling facility.
💡The project is part of India’s wider railway modernization programme aimed at improving efficiency and reducing emissions across one of the world’s largest rail networks.
Indonesia
Indonesia’s National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) is advancing research-based water technologies to address water scarcity risks linked to climate change. The agency is developing solutions across the water cycle, including weather modification, groundwater exploration, isotope analysis and desalination systems to support communities, agriculture and industry.
💡BRIN said its technologies include cloud-seeding systems, groundwater detection using nuclear magnetic resonance, coastal desalination and water treatment solutions for areas with limited access to clean water. The initiatives support Indonesia’s goal of improving water security through domestic research and innovation.
Singapore-Japan
Singapore’s Energy Market Authority (EMA) and Japan’s Electricity and Gas Market Surveillance Commission (EGC) have signed a memorandum of cooperation to strengthen collaboration on energy market regulation. The agreement will support information sharing and exchanges on electricity and gas markets, regulatory approaches, market surveillance and power system stability.
💡The cooperation framework includes technical exchanges, study visits, regulatory dialogues and joint research opportunities. The two agencies said the partnership aims to improve energy market resilience and support reliable power supply amid evolving energy challenges.
South Korea
SK Inc. and KKR have launched a renewable energy platform in South Korea valued at about KRW 2 trillion ($1.3 billion), combining renewable assets from SK affiliates into a single business. The platform will include solar, onshore and offshore wind, and fuel cell assets, with about 1.7GW of operating capacity and a development pipeline targeting 10GW.
💡The platform aims to supply clean power to energy-intensive industries including AI data centres and semiconductor manufacturing. KKR will hold management control initially, while SK will remain an equity investor and retain the option to seek control rights in future discussions.
Aviation
Airports and aviation players are accelerating sustainability, logistics, and infrastructure upgrades, with Brisbane Airport adopting autonomous operations, Ordos Ejin Horo achieving zero-carbon status, and countries including Cambodia, Sri Lanka, Vietnam, and Canada expanding aviation investment and cooperation.
Australia
Brisbane Airport has begun testing a fleet of autonomous robot mowers across its airside areas, becoming the first major Australian airport to trial the technology as part of efforts to improve efficiency and reduce emissions.
💡The solar-powered mowers use sensors, geofencing and safety controls to operate within designated zones and are expected to replace some diesel-powered mowing activities, saving more than 60,000 litres of fuel annually. The airport said the system could reduce maintenance costs, limit herbicide use and allow vegetation management to continue with less disruption to flight operations. Further expansion of the fleet is planned following the initial trial.
Cambodia
Cambodia Airports and local logistics firm WorldBridge Group have signed an agreement to study the development of cargo, warehousing and logistics facilities at Sihanouk International Airport, aiming to strengthen Cambodia’s air and sea transport links.
💡The memorandum of understanding will assess the potential for using airport land to support freight operations and create a multimodal logistics hub connecting the airport with Sihanoukville’s deep-sea port. The companies said the initiative remains at an evaluation stage, with teams expected to develop a joint plan in the coming months.
China
Ordos Ejin Horo International Airport in Inner Mongolia has been certified as the world’s first zero-carbon airport, with its net carbon emissions meeting the “zero-carbon airport” standard. The facility uses a CO₂-based cooling-heating integrated energy system coupled with soil seasonal thermal storage, and an AI-powered holographic 3D smart energy management platform.
💡Clean energy now accounts for over 90% of the airport’s energy mix, consuming more than 21 million kWh of wind and solar power annually. Heating and cooling system energy consumption has been reduced by 60%, with annual operating costs down 50%
Japan
Japan Airlines has entered a partnership with U.S. startup JetZero to support the development of a blended-wing-body passenger aircraft, joining the programme as the companies work toward commercial service in the early 2030s.
💡Under the agreement, the airline will provide input on aircraft design, operations, maintenance and airport compatibility, while JetZero continues certification of the aircraft. The aircraft is being developed as a fuel-efficient alternative to conventional midsize jets, with a design intended to reduce fuel consumption and emissions while operating within existing airport infrastructure.
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka has received 19 investment proposals to develop commercial activities at Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport as the government seeks private-sector involvement to expand the facility’s use. The proposals will be assessed by a committee appointed under the Cabinet Appointed Negotiation Committee, with selected investors invited to submit detailed bids.
💡The plan includes private management of certain airport operations and long-term development projects covering aviation services, logistics, manufacturing, tourism and renewable energy across designated land areas.
Vietnam-Canada
Vietnam and Canada have agreed to expand cooperation in aerospace, technology, energy and trade as they work to strengthen bilateral ties. The two countries will explore opportunities in artificial intelligence, quantum technology, semiconductors, sustainable development and investment, while supporting greater market access and business engagement.
💡The leaders also agreed to deepen coordination on regional and international issues, including ASEAN cooperation and maritime security. They discussed increasing exchanges and improving connectivity, including the potential establishment of direct air routes between the two countries.
Advanced Air Mobility
The advanced air mobility sector is moving closer to commercial deployment, with Vertaxi, AutoFlight, Whitesky, SkyDrive, Archer, and government programmes in South Korea and India advancing eVTOL aircraft, infrastructure, and urban transport ecosystems across Asia-Pacific.
China
Vertaxi has unveiled its M1 air ambulance mission verification aircraft, a 2-ton-class crewed eVTOL aircraft developed with Ruijin Hospital. The aircraft is designed for emergency medical rescue applications and is being evaluated for use in urban air mobility networks.
💡The aircraft is equipped with medical equipment including infusion pumps, defibrillator monitors and emergency ventilators, with further engineering development planned. Vertaxi said the M1 could reduce travel time between Ruijin Hospital’s Jinshan and Huangpu campuses from about 90–100 minutes by road to around 15 minutes.
China-Kazakhstan
AutoFlight and Kazakhstan partner Alatau Advance Air Group have completed a public flight demonstration of the Prosperity I passenger eVTOL aircraft in the capital, Astana. The demonstration was conducted as part of the Games of the Future 2026 event and marked a step toward exploring advanced air mobility applications in Kazakhstan.
💡AutoFlight and AAAG said they are working on the development of urban air mobility infrastructure, regulations and operational systems to support future low-altitude transport services.
India
SRM University-AP has launched DOXI, a student-developed eVTOL air taxi prototype designed for advanced air mobility applications. Developed by a 10-member student team, the aircraft features a 16-motor configuration, a carbon fibre frame, an 80 kg payload capacity and has demonstrated vertical take-off and landing capabilities.
💡The university said DOXI can support applications including urban air mobility, emergency response, air ambulance services and disaster relief. The prototype has a top speed of 50 km/h, a flight endurance of 25 minutes and was developed as part of efforts to advance indigenous aerospace and autonomous mobility technologies.
Indonesia-China
Indonesia’s Whitesky Group has signed a $221 million order with China’s Volant Aerotech for 60 VE25-100 eVTOL aircraft. The companies will work together to develop urban air mobility services in Indonesia using the passenger aircraft, which can carry up to six people and travel up to 400 kilometres.
💡Whitesky said the deployment of eVTOL aircraft could improve transport links across Indonesia’s islands, while supporting sectors including logistics, tourism, agriculture and mining. The partnership reflects growing interest in low-altitude aviation as an alternative transport option in the region.
Japan-Thailand
SkyDrive has partnered with Bangkok Airways, Saha Pathana Inter-Holding and Saha Tokyu to explore the use of eVTOL aircraft in Thailand. The companies will develop plans covering potential routes, ticketing systems and maintenance infrastructure in areas including Sri Racha, Bangkok and Ko Samui.
💡The partnership will assess commercial applications for SkyDrive’s eVTOL aircraft, including urban air mobility and tourism services. The companies will also study aircraft demonstrations, sales support, pilot training and operational requirements as they work toward potential deployment in Thailand.
New Zealand
Aviation Composites New Zealand has introduced a new composite turboprop aircraft concept aimed at replacing ageing regional cargo aircraft used by operators worldwide. The AC-2 AveniQ is being developed as a multi-role platform with a focus on freight operations, while also supporting potential passenger, medical, surveillance and defence applications.
💡ACNZ said the aircraft is at the prototype development stage and is designed to accommodate future propulsion systems, including hybrid and hydrogen technologies. The company plans to pursue certification through New Zealand authorities before seeking recognition in the United States.
South Korea
South Korea’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport has established a pilot operating framework for an initial urban air mobility (UAM) demonstration service targeted for 2028. The programme will test three use cases, including tourist flights, connections to remote areas and routes linking city centres with major airports.
💡The framework will allow certified eVTOL aircraft to participate in trials under set operating conditions, including designated flight paths, daylight operations and onboard pilots. The ministry will also launch training programmes for UAM pilots and maintenance personnel to build domestic expertise ahead of commercial deployment.
USA-Japan
Japan’s Marubeni Aerospace Corporation has been named a strategic launch partner for Archer Aviation’s Halo, a commercial autonomous vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) aircraft platform developed with U.S. defence technology firm Anduril Industries. The platform shares its airframe, hybrid-electric powertrain and core systems with Anduril’s Thunder defence variant.
💡Archer said Halo is designed for applications including cargo transport, offshore logistics, humanitarian response and medical delivery. Marubeni Aerospace will support market research, identify potential use cases and explore future deployment opportunities for the aircraft.
Marine
The maritime sector is advancing automation, sustainability, and resilience, with Patrick Terminals adopting hybrid equipment, Cambodia expanding port capacity, South Korea and the US strengthening shipbuilding cooperation, and autonomous vessel technologies gaining regulatory and commercial momentum.
Australia
Australian container terminal operator Patrick Terminals has ordered 22 hybrid straddle carriers from Kalmar as part of efforts to reduce emissions and expand automation across its operations.
💡The order includes 10 Kalmar Hybrid Straddle Carriers for Melbourne and 12 Hybrid Kalmar AutoStrad machines for Sydney’s automated terminal, with deliveries scheduled for completion in the second quarter of 2027. Kalmar said the deal reflects growing demand for hybrid-powered and automated cargo-handling equipment in terminal operations.
Cambodia-Japan
Cambodia and Japan have signed a 17.776 billion yen ($119 million) loan agreement to support the second phase of the Sihanoukville Port New Container Terminal Development Project.
💡The funding will be used to build a new container terminal and related infrastructure at Sihanoukville Autonomous Port, Cambodia’s main deep-sea gateway. The project is expected to increase cargo handling capacity, improve logistics efficiency and strengthen the country’s maritime connectivity with regional and international markets.
EU-India
The European Commission has proposed adding two Indian ship recycling facilities to its approved list, a move that could end the exclusion of South Asian yards from the European regime after years of applications and inspections.
💡The facilities, including a yard operated by Shree Ram Recycling in Alang, will be the first Indian facilities considered for inclusion on the European List of Ship Recycling Facilities if the proposal is formally adopted. EU-flagged vessels must use approved yards for demolition, with facilities required to meet European safety and environmental standards.
Global
The International Group of P&I Clubs said liabilities arising from Maritime Autonomous Surface Ships (MASS), including fully unmanned vessels, can now be covered under its global pooling arrangements following approval of the International Maritime Organization’s autonomous shipping framework.
💡The group said coverage will remain subject to individual underwriting reviews, with compliance with flag-state and classification requirements among key considerations. It added that incidents linked to remote operators or autonomous systems, such as collisions, would generally fall within existing mutual protection and indemnity coverage, while non-maritime risks such as shore-based facility liabilities would require separate insurance. The IMO MASS Code is expected to remain non-mandatory until around 2032.
South Korea
South Korea’s Navy has tested a humanoid robot developed by the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) as a potential robotic crew member for maritime operations. The robot, named Pibot, performed helmsman duties in a ship handling simulator for an Aegis-guided destroyer, steering the vessel based on verbal commands while monitoring navigation data.
💡The Navy said the trial aims to assess whether robots can reduce crew workload and support operations amid declining military manpower. Equipped with a local large language model and vision systems, Pibot can interpret instructions and maintain a course, with plans for further tests in maritime environments.
South Korea-USA
South Korean shipbuilders and US partners have signed 15 agreements covering naval vessels, LNG infrastructure, smart shipyards and workforce training as Washington and Seoul launched an initiative to expand cooperation in the shipbuilding sector.
The Korea-US Shipbuilding Partnership Center opened in Washington as the headquarters for the Make American Shipbuilding Great Again (MASGA) programme. Deals include Hanwha Ocean’s cooperation on a fast sealift vessel, HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering’s digital shipyard project with Siemens, and Samsung Heavy Industries’ LNG bunkering and autonomous vessel partnerships.
💡The two countries also launched a 120 billion won ($80 million) joint research programme focused on AI-assisted design, automation and autonomous maritime technologies.
Space
Asia’s space ecosystem is rapidly expanding through AI-enabled satellites, commercial launch capabilities, and advanced propulsion technologies, with China scaling orbital computing networks, India supporting private space innovation, and South Korea, Singapore, Japan, and New Zealand advancing next-generation space systems.
China
China has launched the Xiguang 2-01 satellite, a commercial hyperspectral remote sensing spacecraft designed to support ecological monitoring in mining areas. The satellite was sent into orbit aboard Orienspace’s Gravity-1 Yao-4 rocket.
💡The spacecraft is equipped with visible and near-infrared hyperspectral imaging technology, achieving a reported 10-metre spatial resolution and 7-nanometre spectral resolution. It is designed to collect high-resolution hyperspectral data covering up to 1 million square kilometres per day and combines remote sensing capabilities with onboard artificial intelligence and computing systems.
China
Orienspace launched its Gravity-1 rocket on its third mission, sending nine satellites into orbit from a sea-based launch platform off the coast of Shanghai. The solid-fuel rocket lifted off on July 22 Beijing time, with all payloads reaching their planned orbits, though details of the satellites were not disclosed.
💡Standing about 30 metres tall, Gravity-1 is designed to carry up to 6,500 kg of payload to low Earth orbit, making it the world’s most powerful solid-fuel rocket, according to Orienspace. The company said the sea launch capability offers greater flexibility for future commercial missions.
China
China is developing a space-based computing network that will process satellite data in orbit before transmitting results to Earth, with plans for a constellation of about 1,000 satellites, according to project developers. The Xingshu, or Star Hub, initiative is being developed by Fudan University and Shanghai Xingshu Tiansuan Space Technology Co.
💡The network will use artificial intelligence and optical communications to analyze satellite data in space, reducing transmission demands and speeding up information delivery. The project will begin with a demonstration phase involving two computing satellites and 12 AI-enabled sensing satellites, with future applications including weather monitoring, disaster response and infrastructure inspections.
China
China launched a Lijian-1 Y15 carrier rocket on Friday carrying five satellites, including two equipped with artificial intelligence models designed to support autonomous satellite operations and space-based data processing, state media reported.
💡The Jitian Star A-04 satellite carries an AI model developed by Zhejiang Lab that enables autonomous health monitoring, mission planning and task execution. The Xiguang-2 03 satellite uses AI meteorological models to improve forecasting of sudden weather events by processing data in orbit. The satellites are part of Zhejiang Lab’s Three-Body Computing Constellation, which aims to deploy 100 satellites by 2027 to expand AI-enabled computing capabilities in space.
India
Indian space-tech startup BAAS Technologies has raised 5 crore rupees ($600,000) in a pre-seed funding round led by Inflection Point Ventures, with participation from SINE IIT Bombay and angel investors, the company said. The company will use the funds to expand development of solid and liquid propulsion systems, build a 100 kN rocket propulsion testing facility in Pune, strengthen manufacturing capabilities and support upcoming engine and flight-testing activities.
💡Founded in 2024, Nashik-based BAAS develops reusable sub-orbital and orbital launch vehicles for research institutions and commercial space customers.
New Zealand
New Zealand space technology company Zenno Astronautics has tested a superconducting magnetic system designed to control spacecraft without using conventional fuel, potentially opening new approaches for satellite manoeuvring and space operations. The shoebox-sized Supertorquer device, flown on Impulse Space’s Mira satellite, uses solar-powered superconducting magnets to interact with Earth’s magnetic field and adjust the spacecraft’s orientation.
💡Zenno said the technology could eventually support fuel-free spacecraft manoeuvres, including satellite docking, close-range operations and deep-space missions. The system requires extremely low temperatures to operate and uses insulation and heat-management technology to maintain superconducting conditions in orbit.
Singapore-Japan
Nanyang Technological University (NTU Singapore) and Japanese technology firm Fusic have signed an agreement to study artificial intelligence-enabled systems for managing satellite constellations, as operators face growing complexity from larger fleets.
💡The collaboration will examine the use of AI for tasks including mission scheduling, ground-station allocation, satellite monitoring and early detection of technical issues.
South Korea
South Korea’s six major conglomerates have pledged a combined 312 trillion won ($231 billion) in investment in the southeastern Yeongnam region to expand industries including artificial intelligence, aerospace, robotics and advanced manufacturing.
💡The plans include SK Group’s 140 trillion won investment in an AI data centre, Samsung Group’s 60 trillion won allocation for areas including humanoid robots, and Hanwha Group’s 55 trillion won commitment to satellites, launch vehicles and defence-related AI infrastructure. Hyundai Motor Group, Doosan Group and LG Group also announced investments in autonomous mobility, small modular reactors and semiconductor materials.
**Nothing in this article is intended to be or should be construed as legal or financial advice.**