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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.
Illustration: Craig Stephens
China's space programme

Opinion | As China opens up its space sector, Hong Kong should reach for the stars

With deep capital markets and globally aligned legal practices, the city can support a competitive Chinese space programme that shapes global standards.

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China airliners

Exclusive | China’s widebody C929 may take off ahead of schedule, sources say

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Artificial intelligence

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

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China's space programme

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

Commercial launches accounted for 54 per cent of the total last year, data from China National Space Administration shows.

A Long March-7A carrier rocket, carrying the Shijian-29A and Shijian-29B satellites, blasts off from the Wenchang Space Launch Site in south China’s Hainan province on December 31, 2025. Photo: Xinhua
China airliners

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

European Union Aviation Safety Agency test flights a crucial step in acquiring certification needed for global operation.

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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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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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Yu Yue has been appointed as the first female captain pilot of the C919. Photo: China Southern Airlines
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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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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A rocket launchpad is seen amid flags at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centre on October 30. China’s commercial space industry is expected to grow rapidly in the coming years. Photo: EPA
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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The Zhuque-3 rocket completes a launch test at a site in China’s northwestern Gansu province last year. The device is one of several reusable rockets under development in China. Photo: Getty Images
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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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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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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The primary contractor for China’s space programme is expected to announce plans for tours this week. Photo: AP
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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A model of GE Aerospace’s Leap-1C engine, which is used exclusively to power China’s home-grown Comac C919 aircraft, is displayed at last week’s China International Import Expo in Shanghai. Photo: Frank Chen
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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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.

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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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Delivery delays for China’s C919 passenger jet could benefit US aerospace giant Boeing and its competing aircraft, the 737 Max. Photo: AFP
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 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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A pilotless electric air taxi made by the Chinese tech company EHang Holdings completes a test flight at the Aviation Africa Summit and Exhibition in Kigali, Rwanda on September 4. China’s low-altitude aircraft are attracting growing interest from global buyers. Photo: Xinhua
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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A Long March-2C rocket carrying a MisrSat-2 blasts off from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centre in northwest China on December 4, 2023, in a joint China-Egyptian effort. Photo: EPA-EFE/Xinhua
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.

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.

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.

A carrier rocket blasts off from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centre in northwest China. Photo: LandSpace
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.

A SpaceX drone ship carrying a Falcon 9 booster berths at Port Canaveral. China has now launched a similar system as it strives to pivot to using reusable rockets. Photo: SpaceX
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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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.

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