CNA
Indian startup TakeMe2Space plans to launch its sub-50-kilogram MOI-1A satellite on SpaceX’s Transporter-18 rideshare mission on Oct. 1. Equipped with Nvidia Orin NX processors, the spacecraft is designed to run AI models in orbit and process Earth-observation data before transmission to ground stations.
Asia-Pacific (APAC)
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Asia-Pacific airlines carried 33.5 million international passengers in August, down 0.6% year on year, as higher fares, fuel costs and airspace restrictions weighed on demand. Air cargo moved in the opposite direction, with regional growth supporting an 8% global increase and record 2025 airport volumes.
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Indian startup TakeMe2Space plans to launch its sub-50-kilogram MOI-1A satellite on SpaceX’s Transporter-18 rideshare mission on Oct. 1. Equipped with Nvidia Orin NX processors, the spacecraft is designed to run AI models in orbit and process Earth-observation data before transmission to ground stations.
Two Pakistani pilots are undergoing Mandarin study, centrifuge training and simulated weightlessness as China nears a decision on which will become the first Pakistani astronaut to visit Tiangong. The mission would deepen China-Pakistan space cooperation and extend Beijing’s international astronaut program.
South Korea has inducted its first locally developed fighter jet into service, marking a milestone for the country’s domestic defense industry. The move underscores Seoul’s progress in developing and fielding indigenous combat aircraft for its air force.
Rocket Lab is scheduled to launch Strix, a radar-imaging satellite for Japanese company Synspective, on the “Owlright, Owlright, Owlright” mission on Sept. 25. The flight will support Synspective’s imaging constellation and marks another commercial deployment serving Japan’s growing space-data market.
Embraer has delivered the first of two C-390 Millennium transports ordered by Uzbekistan, making it the type’s first Central Asian operator. In parallel, the airframer is again positioning the aircraft for the U.S. Air Force as a flexible multi-mission airlift and tanker supplement to Boeing’s KC-46.
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China Airlines selected Safran to overhaul landing gear on its 18 Airbus A350-900s from 2026 through 2031, while Japan Airlines renewed Boeing 787 component support with Lufthansa Technik. Hebei Airlines and FTAI Aviation also advanced CFM56 maintenance arrangements and regional service capacity.
The U.S. is expanding operational testing of uncrewed combat aircraft, accelerating B-21 Raider flight testing and production, and integrating F-35s into a multinational Indian exercise. The developments underscore parallel efforts to field collaborative combat aircraft while strengthening interoperability with allies and partner forces.
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