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Aerospace: Industry Trends

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Aerospace: Industry Trends
Track China’s ambitious aerospace advancements, from the home-grown commercial aircraft to space exploration, and their global impact.
Adaspace Technology’s constellation of 12 satellites, equipped with AI-powered computing systems, was launched on May 14, 2025. Photo: Handout
Artificial intelligence

Alibaba’s Qwen-3 becomes one of world’s first AI models to operate in orbit

The entire Qwen-3 process – from uploading queries to on-orbit inference and sending results back to Earth – took less than two minutes.

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China's space programme

China’s commercial space sector soars with 50 launches in 2025

China airliners

Exclusive | European test pilots put China’s C919 airliner through paces in Shanghai

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Aerospace: Geopolitics

Why are rich Chinese moving private jets offshore, slumming it in budget seats?

Strict flight rules and economic headwinds are forcing scrutiny-wary tycoons to rebase aircraft in places such as Singapore or downgrade to commercial cabins.

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Two crew members walk past business jets in Shanghai. Photo: AFP
China’s C919 passenger plane

Soaring to the top: China appoints first female captain for C919 flights

Promotion of former Boeing 737 pilot Yu Yue, who holds a ‘zero error’ record, called an inspiration to women across the nation.

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China’s C919 passenger plane

China’s Comac to team up with China Eastern for bigger C919 variant, sources say

Comac’s stretched model, expected to be dubbed the C919-800, could target lucrative Asian routes and seat more than 200 passengers.

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US-China trade war

‘Bad policy’: China’s drone makers to shrug off US ban, analysts say

The addition of foreign drone makers, including those from China, to a US trade blacklist is unlikely to heat up relations, observers said.

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Dai Shuying operates a plant protection drone under the guidance of her grandson Wang Tiantian in east China’s Anhui province. Photo: Xinhua
China manufacturing

From steel to space: China giant sells first 2 satellites in bold pivot

Once forging steel for skyscrapers, Jigang Group is now in a race to the skies with Geely and 90,000 other Chinese companies.

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China's space programme

Explainer | Why China’s space sector is grabbing attention – including from Elon Musk

Chinese start-up LandSpace is set to launch its first reusable rocket on Saturday. If it succeeds, it will give China’s space sector a major boost.

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China airliners

Maker of China’s C919 receives capital injection amid supply chain challenges

The state-owned Comac has received more funding from its stakeholders, a timely infusion as the company attempts to clear a backlog of C919 orders.

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Comac’s C909 passenger aircraft and C919 passenger aircraft in Zhuhai, Guangdong province. Photo: VCG via Getty Images
Made in China 2025

‘Significant gains’: US review evaluates ‘Made in China 2025’ advancements

The decade-long strategy reduces strategic vulnerabilities and strengthens geopolitical leverage, congressional report finds.

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Made in China 2025 was launched in 2015, a decade-long strategy to develop and incorporate advanced technologies into the manufacturing sector. Photo: SCMPOST
China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation

China’s chief space contractor readies plans for tourism programme

A state-owned giant is expected to unveil a space tourism package this week, with suborbital trips priced lower than US rivals SpaceX and Blue Origin.

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China manufacturing

Engine shortages crimp China’s C919 deliveries amid global aerospace bottleneck

State-owned planemaker deploys teams to CFM – a joint venture between GE and Safran that makes the C919’s Leap-1C engine – as suppliers race to meet demand.

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Drones

China’s Chinook-style heavy-duty helicopter drone makes debut with test flight

The Boying T1400 has dual rotors and has been built to withstand extreme temperatures and heavy winds.

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Technicians inspect the Chinook-style Boying T1400 at United Aircraft factory in Harbin, northeast China on October 30. Photo: Xinhua
Hong Kong economy

Action plan to develop Hong Kong’s low-altitude economy to lift off next year

Deputy Financial Secretary Michael Wong hopes passenger drone trials will get green light from civil aviation chief.

The action plan would be introduced next year to drive the development of the low-altitude economy. Photo: Jonathan Wong
China’s C919 passenger plane

With China’s C919 jet facing order delays, is Boeing waiting in the wings?

C919 engine supply issues, mutual desire for trade breakthrough may lead Chinese airlines to buy planes from US giant, analysts said.

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China’s C919 passenger plane

Orders of China’s C919 jet could face delays over engine supply snags

Financial reports from China’s top airlines suggest deliveries of home-grown plane could come late – potentially caused by US engine controls.

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China technology

Chasing Starlink, China Unicom a step closer to satellite communication services

New licence is expected to foster a moderately competitive market while making internet services more accessible to everyday users.

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China Unicom has received a satellite mobile communication business licence. Photo: Shutterstock
China airliners

Chinese flying taxi takes to the skies in Africa as firms eye global roll-out

A Chinese-made pilotless electric air taxi completed its first test flight in Rwanda this week, as China’s aviation firms rapidly go global.

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China technology

Opinion | For China and the Middle East, a Space Silk Road is written in the stars

Traditionally reliant on the US, Arab countries are turning to Beijing as relations with Washington sour over the Gaza humanitarian crisis.

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Robotics

Drone leader DJI’s latest challenger is a Chinese robot vacuum maker

Dreame reportedly recruits talent from DJI and Meituan, while advertising a range of drone-related job openings.

Dreame Technology is a Chinese brand known for its robot vacuum cleaners. Photo: Handout
Shenzhen

Insta360’s Antigravity unveils 8K full-degree drone, challenging DJI

Weighing 249 grams, the A1 drone is set to hit global markets in January.

Antigravity A1 is the first product launched by Insta360’s drone brand. Photo: Handout
IPO

Rocketing to riches: China’s cash-hungry aerospace firms aim for IPOs

Bolstered by improved market sentiment, LandSpace and others seek funding in onshore markets to fuel growth.

China shipbuilding

Why China’s first rocket recovery ship is a milestone for its space programme

The launch of the drone ship marks a step forward for China’s push to develop reusable rockets, a technology currently monopolised by the US.

China airliners

Explainer | From nose to tail, how China is reshaping the aviation supply chain

Recent achievements show Beijing’s efforts to localise the components of its planes have not abated in the wake of the C919’s success.

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The licencing of the AES100 turboshaft engine is one of several recent milestones in China’s campaign to localise its aviation supply chain. Photo: Xinhua
DJI

Insta360’s Antigravity challenges DJI with 8K 360-degree drone

The Chinese company’s product, to be unveiled in August, is set to be the first ‘360 drone’ for consumers.

Antigravity, a new brand under Insta360, is set to unveil its first product. Photo: Handout
Taiwan

Houston to Taipei in 2½ hours? Possible, if US-Taiwan spaceport plans take off

Potential cooperation on suborbital flights may first involve ‘unmanned cargo missions’, de facto embassy American Institute in Taiwan says.

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Space

Opinion | A few small steps for Hong Kong, a giant leap for China’s space sector

The city is well suited to advance China’s commercial ambitions in the cosmos and play a leading role in reforming outdated legal frameworks.

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