As demand accelerates for satellite connectivity and AI in space, China's push into orbital computing is showing new momentum.
Global investment in the space industry has reached a historic inflection point and is poised to climb further in 2026, driven by sustained government spending on defense-related satellite systems and growing private-sector bets on launch capabilities, according to a research report by the investment firm Seraphim Space.
Taiwan's Ministry of National Defense has released select non-classified details of a special military procurement package totaling NT$1.25 trillion (approx. US$39.5 billion), offering a clearer picture of a strategic shift from conventional warfare toward technology-driven operations.
Universal Microwave Technology has revealed significant revenue growth prospects, driven by low-earth orbit (LEO) satellite orders exceeding NT$1.8 billion (US$57 million), with deliveries expected before June 2026. This backlog signals a substantial increase in LEO satellite revenue, projected to grow more than 150% year-over-year in 2026.
The American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) Director Raymond Greene, on January 22, reaffirmed strong US support for Taiwan's defense modernization and defense-industry cooperation, underscoring that closer US-Taiwan collaboration is essential as Taiwan ramps up record defense spending and prioritizes asymmetric warfare capabilities.
Chunghwa Telecom (CHT) signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on January 21, 2026, with Luxembourg-based medium Earth orbit (MEO) satellite operator SES to establish North Asia's first second-generation O3b mPower gateway in Taiwan.
Rapidtek's 8U IoT CubeSat, Black Kite-1, has successfully established stable communications with multiple overseas ground stations since entering orbit, completing its first cross-regional contact campaign.
Since the start of 2026, China's commercial space sector has once again emerged as a focal point for both capital markets and industrial players. On one front, major Chinese banks have completed the launch of dedicated or jointly operated satellites, formally integrating satellite applications into financial risk management and digital operations. On another, privately owned aerospace companies are accelerating their push toward initial public offerings, underscoring how commercial spaceflight is moving more rapidly toward both capital-market validation and real-world applications.
As the global drone market enters a new growth curve in 2026, an "airspace revolution" driven by military reconnaissance, industrial inspection, and logistics delivery is emerging as the next strategic frontier for the optical-lens industry after smartphones. For optics manufacturers, drones are no longer simply cameras that happen to fly; they are complex optoelectronic systems that integrate high-precision imaging, environmental sensing, and edge computing.
China's space launch program suffered a rare setback this week, as two rockets failed in separate launch attempts within hours of each other—an unusual break in a record of growing reliability for the country's rapidly expanding space sector.
After the Ministry of National Defense (MND) of Taiwan completed a classified report to the Legislative Yuan on a special military procurement bill totaling NT$1.25 trillion (approx. USS$39.4 billion), it also released plans to purchase more than 200,000 units of various types of drones. Additionally, 1,000 unmanned surface vessels, in hopes of establishing stronger asymmetric warfare capabilities. Although the planned procurement of more than 200,000 drones is still somewhat lower than current demand in Ukraine and Eastern European countries, it still represents a good opportunity for Taiwan's supply chain to demonstrate its capabilities.
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