Japan

The launch is planned for the second half of 2026, the Japanese company said in a statement.

The tests were on behalf of Japan’s Space Compass Corporation and telecoms partner NTT Docomo.

NASA, which leads the 15-nation ISS’s operations, plans to retire the orbital lab in 2030.

The geostationary orbit (GEO) spacecraft is to demonstrate space domain awareness and intelligence gathering capabilities.

Japanese shipping giant NYK Line is exploring the concept of ship-based rocket launch services to meet the growing demands of the space industry.

Our roundup of the main aerospace and defense stories making the news this week.

The G-1 certification basis is a document that describes requirements that must be satisfied for a new aircraft to receive type certification.

The ministry says the Jan. 25 test validated the flight performance of the domestically produced standoff missile, which “performed as planned.”

Our roundup of the main aerospace and defense stories making the news this week.

SKY Perfect JSAT is looking to get into the low-Earth-orbit remote-sensing business through a $230 million investment and partnership with Planet Labs.

Washington has given Tokyo the green light to acquire a second batch of RTX SM-6 Blk. I missiles.

Japan’s Acquisition, Technology & Logistics Agency has placed an order for 17 Boeing/Kawasaki CH-47J/JA Blk. II aircraft for its air and ground forces.

MRO Japan’s base in Okinawa includes firsts and sets it up for potential growth.

Washington has cleared the way for Japan to acquire more extended-range Lockheed Martin AGM-158B/B-2 Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missiles (JASSM-ER).

The GCAP member countries have made rapid progress to prepare for development, but UK lawmakers say challenges remain in keeping the project on track.

The Pentagon’s V-22 fleet has seen multiple groundings and ongoing limitations to operations.

Members of the UK Parliamentary Defense Select Committee say the project will need to avoid the mistakes made by previous programs such as the Eurofighter.

The investment is part of a larger strategic capital and business alliance with Toyota aimed at the “mass production of rockets.”

The U.S. State Department has approved a $3.6 billion AIM-120 Amraam package to Japan, in what will be one of the largest foreign exports of the missile.

Private lunar lander developer ispace is headquartered in Tokyo but has established subsidiaries in the U.S. and Europe.

Concerns about China’s muscular foreign policy are driving its neighbors to strengthen their military arsenals.

A perilous threat environment has prompted increased defense spending outside the U.S. and the construction of new multinational supply chains.

With Tokyo awarding contracts to build two new Aegis System Equipped Vessels, Lockheed Martin believes there are still details to be ironed out about the new SPY-7 Aegis destroyer.

JCAS Airways initially plans to operate two routes from Osaka’s Kansai International Airport using ATR 72-600 aircraft.

The memorandum of understanding is part of Thailand’s “National Space Experiment and Exploration” program.