https://www.scmp.com/rss/519739/feed Track China’s ambitious aerospace advancements, from the home-grown commercial aircraft to space exploration, and their global impact. en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Ling Xin Ling Xin Chinese researchers say they have built an 11-satellite network for a jam-resistant, high-accuracy optical navigation system, designed to provide positioning where GPS is unavailable or disrupted, for everything from self-driving cars and drones to deep-space missions. Optical navigation has also been used in the ongoing US-Israeli war with Iran, helping drones developed by companies such as Asio Technologies and General Atomics operate in environments where GPS signals are jammed. While... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3348318/lighthouses-space-chinese-jam-proof-satellite-network-fill-gps-gaps?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3348318/lighthouses-space-chinese-jam-proof-satellite-network-fill-gps-gaps?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 30 Mar 2026 02:01:05 +0000 Coco Feng Coco Feng China’s DJI announced its first 360-degree drone on Thursday, directly challenging domestic rival Insta360 in a nascent market segment that is now at the centre of an escalating patent war. The new product, the DJI Avata 360, marks a significant expansion for the company beyond traditional aerial photography. The drone features a front-mounted omnidirectional camera capable of capturing high dynamic range (HDR) images at 8K resolution and 60 frames per second, according to official... https://www.scmp.com/tech/article/3347983/dji-unveils-its-first-360-degree-drone-amid-patent-dispute-crosstown-rival-insta360?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/article/3347983/dji-unveils-its-first-360-degree-drone-amid-patent-dispute-crosstown-rival-insta360?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 26 Mar 2026 13:00:09 +0000 Coco Feng Coco Feng Chinese drone giant DJI has filed a lawsuit against its crosstown rival Insta360 for alleged patent infringement, a move that was made public three days ahead of the launch of DJI’s first 360-degree drone, a niche pioneered by its smaller competitor. The lawsuit, filed recently with the Shenzhen Intermediate People’s Court in the southern tech hub where both companies are based, involved six patents covering critical technologies including drone flight control, structural design and image... https://www.scmp.com/tech/article/3347580/chinas-dji-sues-rival-insta360-alleged-patent-infringement-ahead-new-drone-launch?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/article/3347580/chinas-dji-sues-rival-insta360-alleged-patent-infringement-ahead-new-drone-launch?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 23 Mar 2026 11:30:08 +0000 Coco Feng Coco Feng Aridge, the flying-car developer backed by Chinese electric vehicle maker Xpeng, has raised nearly US$200 million in fresh funding as it prepares for a potential initial public offering (IPO) in Hong Kong this year. Existing investors including GL Ventures, the venture capital arm of Hillhouse Investment, and HongShan – formerly Sequoia China – participated in the latest round, according to a statement released on Friday. The fundraising brings Aridge’s total equity financing to about US$1... https://www.scmp.com/tech/article/3346597/flying-car-dreams-gain-altitude-xpeng-affiliate-aridge-raises-us200-million?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/article/3346597/flying-car-dreams-gain-altitude-xpeng-affiliate-aridge-raises-us200-million?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 14 Mar 2026 08:43:40 +0000 Frank Chen Frank Chen Beijing aims to accelerate the rise of China’s home-grown airliner fleet, including the C909 regional plane, C919 narrowbody and C929 widebody, through 2030. This push to challenge the duopoly of Boeing and Airbus comes as a national five-year plan calls for aircraft production, development and the roll-out of a domestically developed engine. The next five years will prove vital to the success of the three aircraft models and the continued localisation of critical parts such as engines,... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3346236/chinas-five-year-jet-goals-target-c919-output-new-engine-and-reduced-reliance?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3346236/chinas-five-year-jet-goals-target-c919-output-new-engine-and-reduced-reliance?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 12 Mar 2026 02:30:08 +0000 Themis Qi Themis Qi Adrian Cheng Chi-kong, former heir apparent to Hong Kong property giant New World Development (NWD), plans to spend more time in mainland China and increase his tech investments this year, with a focus on a range of sectors from artificial intelligence to aerospace, echoing China’s latest five-year plan. “If our country can realise [the 15th five-year plan], we would be stable and secure, and our future will definitely be promising,” Cheng, who is a member of the Chinese People’s Political... https://www.scmp.com/business/money/markets-investing/article/3345918/hong-kong-tycoon-adrian-cheng-doubles-down-tech-step-chinas-5-year-plan?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/money/markets-investing/article/3345918/hong-kong-tycoon-adrian-cheng-doubles-down-tech-step-chinas-5-year-plan?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 09 Mar 2026 06:12:38 +0000 Frank Chen,Ralph Jennings Frank Chen,Ralph Jennings China’s leading planemaker is redoubling its efforts to boost the international profile of its home-grown jets in 2026, injecting a sizeable amount of capital into a subsidiary carrier as it attempts to widen its planes’ coverage area and attract more overseas buyers. The state-owned Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (Comac), manufacturer of the C909 regional airliner and the company’s flagship narrowbody C919, recently infused 634 million yuan (US$91.76 million) into C909 launch customer... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3344157/chinas-c909-jet-gets-international-uplift-funding-adoptive-airline?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3344157/chinas-c909-jet-gets-international-uplift-funding-adoptive-airline?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 23 Feb 2026 03:00:09 +0000 Ralph Jennings,Frank Chen Ralph Jennings,Frank Chen The maker of China’s expanding family of civilian aircraft has announced new orders for a regional jet and secured a crucial “brain” for its ambitious C929 widebody jet, coinciding with the Singapore Airshow. The Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (Comac) said on Tuesday that it signed a letter of intent for cooperation with Aviage Systems for the C929’s core avionics processing system, according to a Yicai news report. Avionics refer to an aircraft’s electronic systems, including... https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3342392/new-brainer-chinas-c929-widebody-lands-partner-power-next-gen-flight-mind?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3342392/new-brainer-chinas-c929-widebody-lands-partner-power-next-gen-flight-mind?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 04 Feb 2026 13:16:39 +0000 Ralph Jennings Ralph Jennings China’s civil aviation authority has floated a regulatory change that would allow its home-grown passenger jet, the C919, to use narrow runways typically found in smaller airports, a move that could help the plane expand its presence at home and break into the Southeast Asian market. The Civil Aviation Administration of China announced on Friday that it had set “special conditions” for the C919 to use narrow runways based on the jet’s design features, releasing a draft proposal for a... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3342252/china-plans-regulatory-change-help-c919-jet-compete-airbus-and-boeing?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3342252/china-plans-regulatory-change-help-c919-jet-compete-airbus-and-boeing?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 03 Feb 2026 10:01:30 +0000 Frank Chen,Yeon Woo Lee Frank Chen,Yeon Woo Lee When the first cohort of elite foreign captains parachuted into Chinese airlines in the 2000s, their sky-high pay – sometimes reaching 1 million yuan a year – raised eyebrows among their Chinese counterparts. These hotshot aviators, with their international exposure and qualifications, enjoyed a stratospheric level of success in the burgeoning Chinese market. Facing a shortage of experienced pilots, Chinese carriers embraced them with open arms, granting generous benefits and speedy paths to... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3342101/chinas-expat-pilots-arrived-red-carpet-now-theyre-taking-red-eye-out?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3342101/chinas-expat-pilots-arrived-red-carpet-now-theyre-taking-red-eye-out?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 02 Feb 2026 22:00:08 +0000 Frank Chen Frank Chen The Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (Comac) is revving up the design and testing phase of its widebody C929 airliner, marshalling its resources and mobilising its stakeholders to roll out the indigenous jet on schedule – or, potentially, ahead of earlier estimates. Specialists from the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) have proactively involved themselves in the C929’s development, the South China Morning Post has learned, with personnel from the national regulator assessing... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3342069/chinas-widebody-c929-could-arrive-early-revved-development-plan-sources?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3342069/chinas-widebody-c929-could-arrive-early-revved-development-plan-sources?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 02 Feb 2026 08:00:08 +0000 Ni Tao Ni Tao Hangzhou’s space industry got off to a flying start in 2026. On January 7, China’s leading private rocket firm Space Epoch broke ground on a medium-to-large liquid rocket assembly, testing and reuse facility in Hangzhou’s Qiantang district. Basing this in the port city allows the rockets to be transported by sea to launch areas in the East China Sea and recovered the same way. Logistics alone do not explain the decision. Space Epoch is plugging into an industrial ecosystem Hangzhou has been... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3341303/how-hangzhous-tech-ecosystem-nurtures-dragons-and-rockets?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3341303/how-hangzhous-tech-ecosystem-nurtures-dragons-and-rockets?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 27 Jan 2026 08:30:09 +0000 Eunice Xu Eunice Xu Alibaba Cloud’s Qwen-3 became one of the world’s first general-purpose artificial intelligence models to be uploaded and operated in orbit, marking a milestone in China’s bid to lead the nascent space-based computing sector. Chinese aerospace start-up Adaspace Technology successfully deployed Qwen-3 to a space computing centre in orbit where it executed multiple inference tasks in November, according to company executive vice-president Wang Yabo, who spoke at a conference on Monday, as reported... https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-trends/article/3341388/alibabas-qwen-3-becomes-worlds-first-ai-model-operate-orbit?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-trends/article/3341388/alibabas-qwen-3-becomes-worlds-first-ai-model-operate-orbit?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 27 Jan 2026 08:00:25 +0000 Frank Chen Frank Chen China’s leading planemaker is poised for a moderate ramping up of production and deliveries of its C919 narrowbody jet this year, aiming for 28 units or more, with two having already rolled off the production line just three weeks into the new year, according to sources and an industry analyst. While setbacks forced Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (Comac) to cut back on its delivery targets last year, a manager briefed on the state-owned giant’s plans said it expected supply chain... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3341030/maker-chinas-c919-jet-set-pick-production-pace-after-delay-sources?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3341030/maker-chinas-c919-jet-set-pick-production-pace-after-delay-sources?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 26 Jan 2026 01:30:10 +0000 Themis Qi,Zhang Shidong Themis Qi,Zhang Shidong The US-China tech rivalry is no longer confined to the laboratories, fabs and boardrooms of the industry’s biggest names – the artificial intelligence battlefield has now expanded into the capital markets, where ambition is priced in real time. As Washington and Beijing push rival technology ecosystems, initial public offerings and listings are becoming a high-stakes referendum on who gets funding, credibility and, most of all, the runway to scale. Across the Pacific, the contest has been... https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3340999/labs-listings-us-china-ai-race-makes-capital-markets-new-battleground?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3340999/labs-listings-us-china-ai-race-makes-capital-markets-new-battleground?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 24 Jan 2026 02:00:14 +0000 Themis Qi Themis Qi China is moving forward with the initial public offering (IPO) plans of four private rocket makers this month, as Beijing pushes to build up its commercial space industry amid intensifying competition with Elon Musk’s SpaceX. The Shanghai Stock Exchange has issued questions on LandSpace Technology’s IPO application, according to an update late on Thursday, advancing the company’s plan to raise 7.5 billion yuan (US$1 billion) on the tech-focused Star market. IPO preparations also advanced at... https://www.scmp.com/news/china-future-tech/aerospace/article/3340964/chinas-rocket-start-ups-push-envelope-ipos-gather-pace?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china-future-tech/aerospace/article/3340964/chinas-rocket-start-ups-push-envelope-ipos-gather-pace?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 23 Jan 2026 07:30:14 +0000 Themis Qi Themis Qi Banks do not usually build space assets, but in China, lenders are increasingly leasing satellites, funding rocket firms and even launching spacecraft of their own. While banks elsewhere typically use satellite imagery as a purchased “alternative data” feed – for everything from monitoring crops and supply chains to assessing climate and credit risks – Chinese lenders are going further by putting satellites into orbit under their own names. China Merchants Bank (CMB) launched a satellite on... https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/3340771/chinese-banks-join-space-race-satellite-launches-and-rocket-backing?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/3340771/chinese-banks-join-space-race-satellite-launches-and-rocket-backing?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 22 Jan 2026 03:30:23 +0000 Iris Deng Iris Deng The municipal government of Shanghai will open “free-to-fly” zones in the city for drones from February 1, as part of streamlined regulations designed to support the country’s development of a low-altitude economy. According to Shanghai’s new guidelines for civil unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), consumer drones will be allowed to fly in certain “suitable airspace” in the city without prior declaration, provided these devices are registered. These include UAVs categorised as micro, light and... https://www.scmp.com/tech/policy/article/3340696/shanghai-open-free-fly-zones-covering-46-city-consumer-drones?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/policy/article/3340696/shanghai-open-free-fly-zones-covering-46-city-consumer-drones?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 21 Jan 2026 10:15:08 +0000 Victoria Bela,Stephen Chen Victoria Bela,Stephen Chen Four Chinese groups are racing to build global satellite communications infrastructure to challenge the considerable head start made by US tech billionaire Elon Musk’s Starlink. The two leaders for China so far are the central-government-backed GuoWang and Shanghai-backed Qianfan. They have the most satellites in orbit and plans to eventually deploy more than 10,000 apiece. Carmaker Geely’s Geespace also has satellites in space. The fourth group, Hongqing Technology, 48 per cent owned by... https://www.scmp.com/plus/news/china-future-tech/aerospace/article/3340638/chinese-rivals-musks-starlink-wrestle-rocket-constraints?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/plus/news/china-future-tech/aerospace/article/3340638/chinese-rivals-musks-starlink-wrestle-rocket-constraints?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 21 Jan 2026 04:45:12 +0000 Frank Chen Frank Chen European aviation evaluators have begun test flights of China’s home-grown C919 airliner in Shanghai, the Post has learned, as the manufacturer of the narrowbody jet presses ahead with its bid to secure Western safety certification – a crucial step in the journey to global adoption and being able to compete with industry leaders Boeing and Airbus. Two test pilots from the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) have conducted verification flights, according to a source with knowledge of the... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3339945/chinas-c919-airliner-put-through-paces-test-pilots-european-aviation-regulator?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3339945/chinas-c919-airliner-put-through-paces-test-pilots-european-aviation-regulator?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 15 Jan 2026 03:00:08 +0000 Bloomberg Bloomberg Shares of Chinese companies tied to commercial rocket production tumbled after they cautioned that a recent rally had outpaced underlying fundamentals. Hunan Aerospace Huanyu Communication Technology plunged as much as 20 per cent on Tuesday, while China Spacesat dropped as much as 10 per cent before rebounding. Goldwind Science & Technology, which has a stake in rocket start-up LandSpace Technology, fell more than 13 per cent. China Aerospace Times Electronics Technology, CICT Mobile... https://www.scmp.com/business/markets/article/3339752/chinese-rocket-shares-slump-after-warnings-irrational-rally?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/markets/article/3339752/chinese-rocket-shares-slump-after-warnings-irrational-rally?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 13 Jan 2026 09:51:01 +0000 Themis Qi Themis Qi Chinese rocket maker LandSpace aims to raise 7.5 billion yuan (US$1 billion) from an initial public offering (IPO) in Shanghai, after becoming the first home-grown aerospace firm to have its listing application accepted via a fast-tracked process. The Beijing-headquartered company, regarded as a challenger to Elon Musk-led SpaceX, said its listing aimed to “actively respond to national strategic plans and urgent market demands”, according to its prospectus. The Shanghai Stock Exchange (SSE)... https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3338376/chinese-rocket-firm-landspace-moves-closer-us1-billion-ipo-shanghai?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3338376/chinese-rocket-firm-landspace-moves-closer-us1-billion-ipo-shanghai?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 01 Jan 2026 06:30:11 +0000 Frank Chen Frank Chen China has appointed its first female pilot to exclusively captain flights on its home-grown C919 jet, with more aspiring women waiting in the wings as the nation expands its talent pool and systemically transitions elite pilots who used to fly Boeing and Airbus jets to operate the narrowbody airliner. Yu Yue, who made a high-stakes switch from her decade-long career flying the US-made Boeing 737 to be a C919 captain this year, has become a source of inspiration for many in the country. According... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3337431/soaring-top-china-appoints-first-female-captain-flights-home-grown-c919?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3337431/soaring-top-china-appoints-first-female-captain-flights-home-grown-c919?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 27 Dec 2025 06:00:09 +0000 Themis Qi Themis Qi China’s private rocket makers are stepping up their dash for public funding, with Beijing-based LandSpace becoming the first commercial launch provider to clear a key regulatory “tutoring” milestone ahead of a planned listing on Shanghai’s Nasdaq-style Star Market. LandSpace completed its initial public offering (IPO) tutoring process on December 23, according to information published on the website of the China Securities Regulatory Commission (CSRC) – a step that typically precedes the... https://www.scmp.com/business/investor-relations/ipo-quote-profile/article/3337821/launch-window-opens-chinas-private-space-companies-landspace-advances-ipo?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/investor-relations/ipo-quote-profile/article/3337821/launch-window-opens-chinas-private-space-companies-landspace-advances-ipo?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 26 Dec 2025 09:28:22 +0000 Frank Chen Frank Chen China’s state-owned planemaker intends to supersize its flagship jet through a partnership with a major domestic carrier to meet rising market demand for bigger narrowbody types, according to sources. The Commercial Aircraft Corp of China (Comac) signed an agreement with China Eastern Airlines last week to deepen cooperation, including on a stretched variant of the single-aisle C919 that would be able to seat at least 200 passengers, the Post has learned. The deal positions China Eastern, the... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3337728/chinas-c919-maker-teams-china-eastern-bigger-variant-cards-sources?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3337728/chinas-c919-maker-teams-china-eastern-bigger-variant-cards-sources?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 26 Dec 2025 04:00:08 +0000 Ji Siqi,Kandy Wong Ji Siqi,Kandy Wong Though it did not come as a surprise, the US’ formal ban on the sale of new drones produced by China marks a “milestone” in the two countries’ strategic competition and technological decoupling, analysts said, with their rivalry continuing across numerous fields despite the temporary trade truce agreed between their leaders in October. Washington’s telecommunications regulator said on Monday that it is adding all foreign producers of drones and critical components – including those made by... https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3337500/bad-policy-chinas-drone-makers-shrug-us-ban-analysts-say?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3337500/bad-policy-chinas-drone-makers-shrug-us-ban-analysts-say?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 23 Dec 2025 14:00:08 +0000 Mia Nurmamat Mia Nurmamat After drones were flown in China at heights above 8,000 metres (26,247 feet) – approaching that of Mount Everest – the authorities are moving to crack down on illegal flights that threaten the safety of commercial aviation. The controversy highlights the regulatory dilemma China faces as it pushes to develop a low-altitude economy while ensuring aviation safety. Industry insiders say that with technological progress and upgraded oversight, China may eventually allow drones to fly as high as... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3337084/chinas-black-flying-drone-dilemma-when-tech-advancement-clashes-aviation-safety?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3337084/chinas-black-flying-drone-dilemma-when-tech-advancement-clashes-aviation-safety?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 20 Dec 2025 10:00:16 +0000 Ralph Jennings Ralph Jennings China’s top aircraft maker is stepping up efforts to promote its first business jet as it looks to break into a market dominated by Western aviation firms like Gulfstream Aerospace. The Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (Comac) took the rare step of showcasing a completed version of the model – called the Comac Business Jet, or CBJ – at an exhibition in the southern Chinese city of Guangzhou in October. The move signalled the state-owned company was “seeking to break into the large-cabin... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3335352/chinese-home-grown-business-jet-way-will-it-rival-gulfstream?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3335352/chinese-home-grown-business-jet-way-will-it-rival-gulfstream?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 06 Dec 2025 03:00:19 +0000 He Huifeng He Huifeng Jigang Group spent decades forging the metal for China’s infrastructure boom. Now, the former industrial titan is building hardware for the final frontier. The state-owned company, once one of the nation’s top steel producers, has secured orders for its first two satellites – an all-important step in its years-long transformation to capture demand in the country’s burgeoning commercial space industry. Reporting this week on the purchase, the Economic Observer said production was expected to... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3335364/steel-space-china-giant-sells-first-2-satellites-bold-pivot-bears-fruit?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3335364/steel-space-china-giant-sells-first-2-satellites-bold-pivot-bears-fruit?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 05 Dec 2025 09:45:36 +0000 Sylvia Ma Sylvia Ma On Saturday, the Beijing-based start-up LandSpace reportedly plans to conduct the maiden launch of its Zhuque-3 rocket – a reusable launch vehicle that could significantly boost China’s space industry by lowering the cost of lifting equipment such as satellites into orbit. The prospect of China mastering reusable rockets – a technology pioneered by US-based SpaceX – has attracted significant attention from aerospace experts, and even drew comment from SpaceX CEO Elon Musk last month. Beyond the... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3334125/why-chinas-commercial-space-sector-grabbing-attention-including-elon-musk?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3334125/why-chinas-commercial-space-sector-grabbing-attention-including-elon-musk?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 26 Nov 2025 00:00:09 +0000 Frank Chen Frank Chen China’s leading aircraft manufacturer, determined to carve out a share of the lucrative but technologically complex civil aviation market, has obtained a timely round of financial support from its state backers, greatly expanding its registered capital as the firm aims to overcome a production bottleneck and remount its challenge to the Boeing and Airbus duopoly. As competition from the two Western giants for contracts heats up amid a supply chain crunch that has slowed turnaround rates for the... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3334094/maker-chinas-c919-receives-massive-capital-injection-amid-supply-chain-challenges?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3334094/maker-chinas-c919-receives-massive-capital-injection-amid-supply-chain-challenges?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 25 Nov 2025 10:00:27 +0000 He Huifeng He Huifeng The Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (Comac) has launched a clean surgical cabin for its C909 narrowbody jet – an innovation the manufacturer touts as the first of its kind, and one that could expand access to complex medical procedures in the country's most remote and underserved regions. The upgrade advances the airborne hospital concept from in-flight diagnosis to genuine surgical capability, broadening the jet’s commercial applications, according to official media. The cabin is a... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3334082/chinas-comac-debuts-c909-surgical-cabin-expand-flying-hospitals-remote-regions?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3334082/chinas-comac-debuts-c909-surgical-cabin-expand-flying-hospitals-remote-regions?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 25 Nov 2025 09:00:31 +0000 Alice Li Alice Li A Chinese drone maker has secured 1,600 orders for industrial models at the recently concluded Dubai Airshow – marking the largest ever single-order deal for the country’s manufacturers at the biennial event, as its companies target emerging markets. The deal, secured by Shenzhen-based United Aircraft, covered industrial drones used for low-altitude logistics, medical deliveries and agricultural applications in the United Arab Emirates and other markets, local outlet SZnews.com reported. The... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3333942/chinese-drone-maker-scores-record-1600-orders-dubai-airshow?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3333942/chinese-drone-maker-scores-record-1600-orders-dubai-airshow?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 24 Nov 2025 09:01:12 +0000 Coco Feng Coco Feng DJI, the world leader in drone technology, plans to launch a “full-view” drone – a new genre that rival Insta360 is also developing – in a sign of fierce hardware competition among China’s gadget makers. The Shenzhen-based company conducted a preview of the product last week to give attendees a first-hand look at its new 360-degree drone, named Avata 360, and to share the company’s views on industry competition and market prospects, the Guangdong financial newspaper 21st Century Business Herald... https://www.scmp.com/tech/article/3333422/dji-takes-aim-insta360-360-degree-drone-dogfight-intensifies?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/article/3333422/dji-takes-aim-insta360-360-degree-drone-dogfight-intensifies?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 19 Nov 2025 11:00:18 +0000 Kandy Wong Kandy Wong Beijing has not achieved all of its “Made in China 2025” (MIC2025) goals – particularly in aviation and integrated circuits – but has still made “significant gains” and cemented its status as a global manufacturing powerhouse, according to a new US government report. The assessment, released by the US-China Economic and Security Review Commission, evaluated China's progress on the 10-year strategy, which was launched in 2015 to achieve self-reliance, innovation and technological prowess across... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3333119/made-china-2025-cements-manufacturing-dominance-despite-missed-goals-us-review-finds?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3333119/made-china-2025-cements-manufacturing-dominance-despite-missed-goals-us-review-finds?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 18 Nov 2025 02:00:31 +0000 Frank Chen Frank Chen As companies like SpaceX and Blue Origin make headlines for sending non-astronauts into space on pricey private tours, a Chinese state firm is expected to unveil its own space tourism programme this week, joining other domestic enterprises as they attempt to make headway in the rapidly emerging – and US-dominated – market. China Aerospace Science and Technology Corp (CASC), the primary contractor for the country's space programme, will unveil details of its inaugural tour at the China Hi-tech... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3332658/chinas-chief-space-contractor-readies-plans-tourism-programme?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3332658/chinas-chief-space-contractor-readies-plans-tourism-programme?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 14 Nov 2025 00:00:20 +0000 Frank Chen Frank Chen The manufacturer of China’s home-grown passenger jets is ramping up efforts to secure Western-made engines as its aircraft production slumps and rivals race for scarce components amid a supply crunch afflicting the global aviation industry. By dispatching teams to key overseas suppliers, the Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (Comac) is seeking to smooth out communication and secure delivery of more Leap-1C engines, according to two people with knowledge of the trips. And as the... https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3332368/c919-output-falters-chinas-comac-scrambles-western-engines-amid-global-bottleneck?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3332368/c919-output-falters-chinas-comac-scrambles-western-engines-amid-global-bottleneck?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 11 Nov 2025 14:00:14 +0000 Cheryl Arcibal Cheryl Arcibal Uspace Technology Group will set up an artificial intelligence application technology centre in Shenzhen, as the satellite manufacturer realigns its space business after moving its headquarters from Hong Kong to Guangzhou, capital of southern Guangdong province. A unit of Uspace, Gang Hang Ke, will spearhead the centre’s establishment, the company said in a filing with the Hong Kong stock exchange on Monday evening. It said the new facility will focus on intelligent decision-making for satellite... https://www.scmp.com/business/companies/article/3331382/satellite-maker-uspace-pivots-ai-applications-new-tech-centre-shenzhen?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/companies/article/3331382/satellite-maker-uspace-pivots-ai-applications-new-tech-centre-shenzhen?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 03 Nov 2025 23:30:07 +0000 Ralph Jennings Ralph Jennings Brunei has officially adopted China’s civil aviation certification standards, easing access for Chinese-built aircraft such as the narrowbody C919 jet into the wealthy Southeast Asian market while serving as a potential model for how the planes could expand their international reach. Brunei accepted the airworthiness code of the Civil Aviation Administration of China earlier this month, the Chinese embassy in Brunei said on Monday on its website, citing the equatorial country’s Department of... https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3330920/international-win-chinas-c919-brunei-accepts-chinese-aviation-rules?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3330920/international-win-chinas-c919-brunei-accepts-chinese-aviation-rules?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 31 Oct 2025 01:00:14 +0000 Frank Chen,Ralph Jennings Frank Chen,Ralph Jennings The delivery delays appearing to hit China’s C919 – the home-grown narrowbody jet intended to compete with leading Western models – may lead some domestic carriers to consider more orders with US aerospace giant Boeing, industry insiders said. With financial reports from major airlines suggesting C919 units have not been arriving as scheduled, manufacturer Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (Comac) may lose a share of its home market to its American rival, they said, despite the safety... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3327787/chinas-c919-jet-facing-order-delays-boeing-waiting-wings?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3327787/chinas-c919-jet-facing-order-delays-boeing-waiting-wings?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 03 Oct 2025 15:00:08 +0000 Ralph Jennings Ralph Jennings Deliveries of China’s first narrowbody passenger jet to the top three domestic airlines could be falling behind schedule, according to company financial reports, raising market speculation regarding potential disruptions to the model’s engine supply. Air China and China Eastern Airlines received one C919 aircraft each in the first half of the year despite their stated goals of adding 10 apiece in 2025, according to the reports. China Southern Airlines’ reports said the carrier expects 12 of the... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3327021/orders-chinas-c919-jet-could-face-delays-over-engine-supply-snags?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3327021/orders-chinas-c919-jet-could-face-delays-over-engine-supply-snags?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 29 Sep 2025 02:00:20 +0000 Kandy Wong,Ralph Jennings Kandy Wong,Ralph Jennings Malaysian low-cost airline AirAsia has shown strong interest in acquiring the Chinese C919 passenger jet, its executive said, as part of its strategy to tap into Southeast Asia’s 700 million-strong population and capitalise on growing China-Asean business ties. “We’re in active discussions to buy the C919,” Tony Fernandes, CEO of Capital A – an investment holding company of AirAsia – told the Belt and Road Summit in Hong Kong on Wednesday. “We’re the first foreign airline to be working with... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3325061/china-eyes-c919-jet-breakthrough-malaysian-airline-confirms-talks-buy-aircraft?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3325061/china-eyes-c919-jet-breakthrough-malaysian-airline-confirms-talks-buy-aircraft?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 11 Sep 2025 00:00:08 +0000 Mia Nurmamat Mia Nurmamat Chinese-made aircraft are set to spread their wings further in Southeast Asia after Air Cambodia announced what could become the largest ever overseas order for C909 passenger jets. The airline has signed a memorandum of understanding with the Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (Comac) for 10 of the jets, with the option to buy 10 more. “The two sides will closely cooperate on aircraft introduction, operational support and industry development,” according to an online statement by Comac,... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3325014/chinas-comac-wins-one-its-biggest-overseas-orders-c909-jets-cambodia-deal?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3325014/chinas-comac-wins-one-its-biggest-overseas-orders-c909-jets-cambodia-deal?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 10 Sep 2025 07:30:09 +0000 Ralph Jennings Ralph Jennings China plans to help dozens of countries develop their civil aviation capabilities through the Air Silk Road – a campaign that could, in turn, promote its home-grown aircraft and boost trade with nations from Central Asia to Europe. In the next phase of the eight-year-old initiative, Beijing would step up cooperation on aircraft leasing and civil aviation equipment manufacturing with some of the 150 countries taking part in the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), the government said in a report. At a... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3324900/chinas-air-silk-road-grows-can-comacs-c909-and-c919-jets-take-abroad?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3324900/chinas-air-silk-road-grows-can-comacs-c909-and-c919-jets-take-abroad?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 09 Sep 2025 15:00:09 +0000 Ralph Jennings Ralph Jennings A made-in-China automated electric air taxi took off in Africa for the first time this week, as a new generation of Chinese low-altitude aircraft attracts growing interest from global buyers. The product on show was a pilotless electric take-off and landing vehicle (eVTOL) made by EHang Holdings, a Nasdaq-listed tech company from the southern Chinese city of Guangzhou. It took to the skies during the Aviation Africa Summit and Exhibition, a major industry event involving 34 countries that was... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3324491/chinese-flying-taxi-takes-skies-africa-firms-eye-global-roll-out?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3324491/chinese-flying-taxi-takes-skies-africa-firms-eye-global-roll-out?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 07 Sep 2025 04:00:13 +0000 Ralph Jennings Ralph Jennings China is training representatives from Southeast Asia this month in an effort to promote its home-grown civilian aircraft, as the region leads the world in accepting Chinese deliveries despite Airbus and Boeing’s dominance. Twenty participants from Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam are taking part in the 2025 China-Asean Civil Aviation Management Capacity Enhancement Workshop in Beijing, which started Monday. Organised by the Civil Aviation... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3324260/china-starts-aviation-training-southeast-asia-it-pushes-c919-home-grown-jets?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3324260/china-starts-aviation-training-southeast-asia-it-pushes-c919-home-grown-jets?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 04 Sep 2025 02:15:07 +0000 Alice Li Alice Li China is pushing to accelerate the rollout of commercial low-orbit satellite internet services as it strives to develop home-grown rivals to SpaceX’s Starlink network. In a guideline released on Wednesday, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology said it would encourage operators of low-orbit satellite constellations to launch trials of commercial services “at an appropriate time”. The document also encourages telecom operators to leverage low-orbit satellite internet to expand... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3323502/china-races-roll-out-low-orbit-satellite-internet-rival-musks-starlink?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3323502/china-races-roll-out-low-orbit-satellite-internet-rival-musks-starlink?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 28 Aug 2025 09:43:55 +0000 Yang Xiaotong Yang Xiaotong The Silk Road once connected China and the Arab world, stretching from Cordoba to Canton. The network not only fostered trade, but also cultural and intellectual exchange. Today, as humanity stands on the brink of a new age of exploration, this time of the cosmos, the stage is set to revive this historic partnership. For Arab countries, especially the Gulf states, space exploration represents a way to diversify their economy and reinvent their image. They are investing billions in space... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3322274/china-and-middle-east-space-silk-road-written-stars?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3322274/china-and-middle-east-space-silk-road-written-stars?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 20 Aug 2025 21:30:07 +0000 Coco Feng Coco Feng Dreame Technology, a Chinese brand known for its robot vacuum cleaners, is actively recruiting drone experts in what is seen as a move to compete with DJI, the dominant player in the market, amid growing competition from innovative hardware start-ups. The company is advertising at least 10 positions – including drone navigation modelling algorithm engineer, drone test pilot, drone operations sales director and business director for the pan-aviation industry – according to job postings on the... https://www.scmp.com/tech/article/3322510/dji-faces-new-challenger-chinas-robot-vacuum-maker-dreame-hires-drone-experts?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/article/3322510/dji-faces-new-challenger-chinas-robot-vacuum-maker-dreame-hires-drone-experts?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 20 Aug 2025 12:00:08 +0000 Xiaofei Xu Xiaofei Xu South China’s Guangdong province has announced its ambition to join the country’s race to expand its commercial space sector, promising financial and policy support for companies wanting to build low-orbit satellite constellation systems and promote their application in futuristic industries including space mining and space tourism. Guangdong plans to use government procurement to support key innovative products and application scenarios for satellite constellation systems, which also include... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3322444/mining-tourism-space-ambitions-chinas-guangdong-rival-those-elon-musk?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3322444/mining-tourism-space-ambitions-chinas-guangdong-rival-those-elon-musk?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 20 Aug 2025 02:52:04 +0000