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Jun 26
Europe aggressively pursues non-red supply chains; Thunder Tiger showcases unmanned combat systems in Poland
Unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) manufacturer Thunder Tiger recently participated in the Taiwan Expo in Europe 2026 in Warsaw, Poland, showcasing its combat solutions. It said European markets are prioritizing non-red supply chains. In addition to establishing a presence in Ohio, the company has obtained multiple certifications and is integrating with Taiwanese suppliers to build a non-Red supply chain ecosystem.
Taiwan's Executive Yuan has decided to draft a separate special bill to support drone development and procurement after the Legislative Yuan cut relevant items from the NT$1.25 trillion (approx. US$39 billion) special budget for national defense, with the Executive Yuan citing national security concerns and the need to build an autonomous industrial supply chain. The move comes as a delegation of lawmakers, led by Speaker Daniel K.Y. Han, returns from a visit to TSMC's Arizona plant and meetings with US lawmakers, yet it remains unclear whether that trip will help win opposition support for the drone bill.
Taiwanese drone manufacturers are accelerating their expansion into overseas markets as domestic defense and program budgets remain unstable, executives said, making international sales the primary growth engine. Demand varies by region, and firms are increasingly emphasizing their non-China supply chains to address geopolitical concerns and customer requirements.
SK Group chairman Chey Tae-won is planning to meet Tesla and SpaceX leadership in the US at the end of June 2026 to advance cooperation on next-generation AI infrastructure, memory supply, and data-center projects, South Korean outlet Ddaily reported, citing industry sources. The meeting is expected to cover specific business collaboration plans with Tesla, SpaceX, and xAI, though the exact date was kept confidential.

At VivaTech 2026 in Paris last week, Philippe Keryer, Chief Strategy and Innovation Officer at Thales, identified Europe's core quantum challenge in a single observation: "The problem is not really how we invent, it's really how we scale."

LG Group is expanding into the space industry, using affiliate-made components, rover concepts, and CubeSat systems to enter satellite supply chains and validate its technologies in orbit. At South Korea's NextRise 2026 startup expo, LG outlined a space business strategy that links its terrestrial technologies to future space applications and potential SpaceX cooperation.

Shanghai Spacecom Satellite Technology (SSST, also known as Ambandha), operator of China's Qianfan low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite internet constellation, has launched a new funding round as the country's commercial space sector transitions from proof-of-concept to scaled deployment.

Chinese Premier Li Qiang will attend Summer Davos 2026, to be held from June 23 to 25 in Dalian, Liaoning province. The forum, formally the Annual Meeting of the New Champions, will feature a speech by Li. Ahead of the event, Li visited Dalian on June 22 to inspect local heavy industry and advanced equipment manufacturers, signaling China's continued policy support for advanced manufacturing.

Mukesh Ambani's Jio Platforms plans a self-built LEO constellation to strengthen India's domestic communications infrastructure, paired with third-party satellite bandwidth leasing.

Taiwan-based Tongtai Machine & Tool is accelerating its transformation toward high-value manufacturing, leveraging growing opportunities in AI servers, semiconductors and aerospace. At its annual general meeting on June 17, shareholders approved all proposals and elected a new board that includes several aerospace industry veterans, underscoring the company's commitment to expanding into advanced manufacturing sectors despite a challenging operating environment.

Amid growing localization efforts across China's supply chain, FineMat Applied Materials has seen its metal mask business continue to shrink and is accelerating its transition into AI cooling, semiconductors, and drones. The company's liquid-cooling cold plates for AI applications have already been sampled by end customers and are expected to begin shipping in the second half of 2026. Once volume production ramps in 2027, cooling products could account for more than 50% of total revenue, becoming a key growth driver.