Space.com
• Josh Dinner
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.
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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.
U.S. and allied forces are combining fifth-generation fighters, airborne command-and-control and emerging uncrewed combat aircraft across exercises in India, Alaska and the Arctic. The Air Force has also begun independent operations of Anduril’s FQ-44A Fury and is accelerating plans for a 1,000-aircraft Collaborative Combat Aircraft fleet.
Pakistan International Airlines’ board has reportedly greenlit leases for Boeing 787 aircraft, according to a ch-aviation report. The decision points to a potential widebody fleet move for the carrier, although the report does not specify the number of aircraft, lessors, lease terms or delivery timeline.
Vietnam’s Sun PhuQuoc Airways has taken delivery of its first Airbus A330-200, aircraft VN-A969 (MSN 1415), according to parent company Sun Group. The aircraft marks the airline’s entry into widebody operations and adds a new operator to the A330-200 fleet.
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Airlines for America said U.S. carriers oppose adding more direct flights between the United States and China, pushing back after Chinese President Xi Jinping raised the prospect of increased service. The position highlights continued tension over the scale of bilateral air connectivity.
Stratospheric platform developers Aalto HAPS and Sceye say years of flight testing have established operational maturity for their distinct high-altitude designs. Both companies expect to begin commercial operations within months, initially serving selected government and commercial customers with Japanese support.
US, Japanese and industry officials discussed supply bottlenecks affecting access to yttrium, a Chinese-controlled rare earth metal used in aerospace and semiconductor manufacturing, according to a document reviewed by Reuters. The meeting came two weeks before President Donald Trump’s planned summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping.
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