Japan

By Alex Derber
StarFlyer secures a Leap spare engine lease to address supply challenges and ensure stable operations for its Airbus A320neo fleet over the next decade.
Airlines & Lessors

By Chen Chuanren
Japan’s Acquisition, Technology & Logistics Agency (ATLA) has selected Terra Drone to supply the Japan Self-Defense Forces with its Terra B1 interceptor drone under a fast-tracked program to strengthen counter-uncrewed aircraft capabilities.
Missile Defense & Weapons

By Samuel Archer
For more information about Aviation Week Intelligence Network’s (AWIN) 2026 Military Fleet & MRO Forecast and other Aviation Week data products, please see: https://pgs.aviationweek.com/forecast
AWIN Knowledge Center

By Chen Chuanren
Australia and Japan have conducted the first test of a jointly-developed prototype surveillance laser system, marking the first co-development project between the two countries as bilateral defense ties continue to deepen.
Budget, Policy & Operations

By Chen Chuanren
Japan has conducted its first live-fire test of the RTX BGM-109 Tomahawk land-attack cruise missile.
Missile Defense & Weapons

By Tony Osborne
As Canada joins GCAP as an observer, governments and industry are working out how to manage the next steps in this ambitious fighter program.
Budget, Policy & Operations

By Chen Chuanren
Reusable rocketry might soon extend beyond the U.S., as China and Japan each approach operational capability.
Launch Vehicles & Propulsion

By Chen Chuanren
Japan’s Ministry of Defense has shortlisted interceptor drones from four companies for trials aimed at defending military bases and naval vessels against the growing threat posed by uncrewed aircraft systems (UAS).
Aircraft & Propulsion

By Robert Wall
Japan’s Ispace says it has secured capacity on a SpaceX Starship launch to expand its lunar transportation ambitions.
Operations & Safety

By Tony Osborne
Development of the combat aircraft at the heart of the Global Combat Air Program (GCAP) is set to accelerate after prime contractor Edgewing was awarded a £4.6 billion contract.
Aircraft & Propulsion

By Robert Wall
Japan’s Defense Ministry established a position for space matters in its armaments planning organization as part of efforts to strengthen capabilities in this area.
Budget, Policy & Regulation

By Tony Osborne
BAE Systems has reached the "business end" of developing its Future Combat Air Demonstrator, the aircraft that will pave the way for the fighter emerging from the tri-national Global Combat Air Program.
Aircraft & Propulsion

By Robert Wall
MDA Space says it will pro provide key components to Mitsubishi Electric as part of the Japanese manufacturer’s work on a national military satellite communication system.
Satellites

By Chen Chuanren
How the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force is enhancing its new naval capabilities from the seas and the skies.
Budget, Policy & Operations

By Robert Wall
Japan has dispatched its Kawasaki EC-2 standoff jammer aircraft to its flight development center after taking flight earlier this year.
Aircraft & Propulsion

By Tony Osborne
The UK is indicating it will award a contract for the GCAP program this month in a show of support for the tri-national combat aircraft program.
Aircraft & Propulsion

By Garrett Reim
Commercial space station developer Axiom Space continues to deepen its international connections by adding more than $175 million to its last funding round.
Commercial Space

By Ben Goldstein
Indian startup BluJ Aerospace is developing a family of electric and hydrogen-electric VTOL aircraft aimed first at cargo and logistics missions, with passenger service planned as a longer-term goal.
Advanced Air Mobility

By Aaron Karp
United Airlines will launch two routes to Japan for the 2025-2026 northern hemisphere winter season, including adding Sapporo to its network.
Airports & Networks

By Vivienne Machi
Asian startups are building new intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance satellite fleets to meet growing military and commercial demand.
Satellites

By Graham Warwick
Japan’s Terra Drones has acquired its second stake in a Ukrainian manufacturer of interceptor drones.
Aircraft & Propulsion

By Ben Goldstein
Japan’s SkyDrive has been granted Approved Design Organization (ADO) certification by the Japan Civil Aviation Bureau (JCAB).
Advanced Air Mobility

By Robert Wall
Australia has signed an agreement with Japan to work together in the field of collaborative combat aircraft (CCA) using the Boeing MQ-28A Ghost Bat.
Budget, Policy & Operations

By Graham Warwick
The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) has conducted a Mach 5 ramjet combustion test on an experimental hypersonic aircraft developed jointly with three Japanese universities.
Aircraft & Propulsion

By Alex Derber
Japanese investors have continued their expansion into the aviation aftermarket following Marubeni’s full acquisition of DASI.
Aircraft & Propulsion