The first of Australia’s two Canberra-class assault ships is running sea trials ahead of delivery due this year. Personnel from prime contractor BAE Systems and the Royal Australian Navy are checking the operation of the ship, to be commissioned as HMAS Canberra, on a trip from Melbourne to Sydney and back. The trial “includes both platform tests as well as testing the ship’s combat and communication systems,” says Bill Salter, the head of BAE’s maritime business in Australia.

The financial leasing arm of the giant Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC) is likely to order Boeing 777Xs, say two industry executives. The quantity under negotiation is unknown. ICBC Financial Leasing also is considering ordering 787s from Boeing, the industry officials say. The aircraft need not be supplied to Chinese airlines. The lessor could place them with carriers elsewhere.

BEIJING — Japan’s proposed H-X rocket program is moving ahead, with country’s space agency calling for a private company to develop, build and operate the family of space launchers. Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, prime contractor and operator of the current H-IIA and H-IIB launchers, is the only conceivable supplier for the H-X, which will presumably be given the permanent name H-III when full-scale development begins.