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Jan 15, 16:17
UHT, Fong Jaw partner on dual-use VTOL drone for defense and commercial markets

Taiwan-based advanced materials supplier UHT Unitech has signed a memorandum of understanding with aerospace manufacturer Fong Jaw Aerospace to jointly develop, manufacture and sell a medium-payload vertical takeoff and landing unmanned aerial vehicle branded as Cougar, as the partners seek opportunities in global defense and high-end commercial drone markets.

After completing a Series A funding round in January 2025, SEPOCH (also known as Jianyuan Technology), a Beijing-based private aerospace company, moved quickly to translate capital into concrete infrastructure. The company has begun construction in Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, of a medium- to heavy-lift liquid rocket assembly, testing, and recovery complex with a total planned investment of CNY5.2 billion (approx. US$745 million).

Taiwanese touch controller maker Elan Microelectronics Corporation returned to the Consumer Electronics Show in 2026 after several years away, using the Las Vegas event to outline how its long-standing work in visual artificial intelligence is extending into smart transportation and drone-related applications.

The US Commerce Department has withdrawn a proposal that would have restricted or potentially barred imports of Chinese-made drones, stepping back from a regulatory effort aimed at addressing national security and supply chain risks, according to a notice posted on a US government website.

According to data from the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), China filed in December 2025 to secure frequency and orbital resources for more than 200,000 low-earth orbit (LEO) satellites spread across approximately 14 constellations. This filing represents an unprecedented move in the global competition for LEO satellite networks.
US President Donald Trump has publicly called for raising the 2027 US defense budget to US$1.5 trillion, a sharp increase of more than 50% from the current US$901 billion. In a social media post, Trump highlighted that this funding increase is necessary to build a "Dream Military" in "these very troubled and dangerous times."
On January 6, 2026, China's Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) announced that, to safeguard national security and interests, it would strengthen export controls on dual-use items to Japan. It also initiated an anti-dumping investigation on specialty gases exported to Japan's chip industry. This goes far beyond its previous rare earth controls, with vague definitions for military and civilian applications.
Taiwan and Europe will continue to strengthen collaboration in advanced fields such as drones, robotics, and low Earth orbit (LEO) satellites in 2026, according to Chao-chung Kuo, director general of the Department of Industrial Technology (DOIT) at the Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA). Kuo made the announcement at a press conference hosted by the DOIT on January 7, which showcased the results of cross-national collaborative R&D efforts with Europe. These include Innolux's entry into the market for high-voltage EV charging, and MediaTek's collaboration with Eutelsat OneWeb. In addition, the number of countries participating in the Eureka Network's Globalstars program is expected to increase to seven in 2026.

Japan has formally committed to building its own low-Earth-orbit (LEO) satellite constellation, marking a significant shift in how the country approaches communications infrastructure and national security.

As commercial space activity accelerates worldwide, Alex Haro, the chief executive of Hubble, describes the industry as undergoing a structural shift—one that is transforming satellites from experimental hardware into global digital infrastructure.

Tex Year Industries has just about completed its layout in specialty adhesives, materials, and chemicals for the AI and optoelectronics industries. It expects to see a significant increase in shipments and double-digit growth in 2026. This year, Tex Year will focus on five areas: AI cloud data centers, EVs, drones, smartphones, and Mini LED displays.
The US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has updated its Covered List to exempt certain uncrewed aircraft systems (UAS) and critical drone components from import and authorization restrictions, but the revised exemptions do not include products from Chinese drone maker DJI, reinforcing regulatory pressure on the company's US business.