South Korea successfully launched its domestically developed Nuri rocket for the third time early Thursday morning, sending a multi-mission satellite into low Earth orbit and marking a major step toward cultivating a commercial space industry. The launch, Korea's first conducted late at night, was timed to minimize solar interference for the mission's main payload, the Compact Advanced Satellite 500-3, which will study auroras and atmospheric light.
Taiwan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs has created a drone diplomacy task force to deepen cooperation with allied and like-minded countries, seeking to mirror the success of the island's chip diplomacy strategy. The initiative aims to boost drone exports, support long-range and complex-terrain testing abroad, and expand bilateral work on key components, system integration, and battlefield experience.
The US Department of Defense has awarded Hewlett Packard Enterprise a ten-year, US$931 million contract to build a hybrid cloud system that will support the Pentagon's expanding artificial intelligence and data processing needs. The Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA) will deploy HPE's GreenLake Private Cloud platform across multiple high-security military data centers to strengthen the department's classified computing capabilities.
Taiwan's first domestically built satellite constellation, FORMOSAT-8, is set to take a major step forward this week. The inaugural satellite in the series, FORMOSAT-8A (FS-8A), is scheduled to lift off at 2:18 a.m. Taiwan time on November 27, 2025.
Foxconn showcased sweeping upgrades across artificial intelligence (AI), electric vehicles (EVs), advanced manufacturing, and data center hardware during its two-day Hon Hai Tech Day event. The developments underscore the company's push to evolve from the world's largest electronics contractor into a full-stack technology and platform provider. The event highlighted new strategic partnerships, including a collaboration with OpenAI and expanded work with Nvidia.
The Taiwanese government has expanded its list of core national technologies from 32 to 42 items to enhance the protection of trade secrets and prevent unlawful infringements. The National Science and Technology Council (NSTC) coordinated efforts among various ministries, industry associations, and academic experts to update the list in accordance with the National Security Act.
SpaceX's latest prototype of its Starship rocket system suffered a structural failure during a ground test in South Texas, the company confirmed, marking a setback for the program as it prepares for its next launch attempt.
The US government is preparing to ease restrictions on beyond-visual-line-of-sight drone operations, a regulatory shift that could unlock large-scale commercial deployments across logistics, inspection, and infrastructure services. The plan would allow drones to fly below 400 feet at approved sites without requiring case-by-case waivers, a move expected to accelerate new business models and attract more companies into critical enabling technologies.
At Zhong Yang Technology's investor conference on November 21, 2025, General Manager Chih-Cheng Hsu stated that after undergoing significant adjustments over the past two to three years and improving its business structure, the company began seeing results in 2025. Structural growth is expected in 2026, and Zhong Yang is optimistic about automotive, drones, and AR as its most growth-oriented businesses. Additionally, its Thailand plant is expected to start contributing more revenue in 2026.
After several postponements, Taiwan's first domestically assembled optical remote-sensing satellite of the Formosat-8 program—nicknamed the Zeppelin Satellite (FS-8A)—is now scheduled for launch at 2:18 a.m. Taiwan time on November 27, 2025.
Taiwan is accelerating efforts to transform Chiayi's Minsyong district into a national hub for drone research and manufacturing. The National Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology expects the new Aerospace and UAV Industrial Park to welcome its first tenants in 2028 as the government positions unmanned systems as a critical growth industry.
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