Space-based data centers could open a new market for low-power AI chips, but moving computing workloads into orbit presents challenges involving radiation, cooling, and hardware reliability. South Korean AI chip developer Rebellions is calling for government support to help companies establish a track record in space, while researchers recommend adapting existing processors rather than developing new chips from scratch.

NASA is accelerating construction of a lunar south pole base by selecting eight aerospace companies for the second phase of its Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS 2) program. The companies will compete for lunar transport missions over 10 years, with a combined procurement ceiling of US$10 billion.

South Korea plans to develop small, medium, and large data centers in orbit under its K-Moonshot initiative, aiming to conduct its first in-orbit demonstration in 2028 and lay the groundwork for commercial space-based AI services before 2035.

A future communications network capable of detecting certain forms of eavesdropping may depend on something remarkably small: a semiconductor device designed to emit individual particles of light.

The US Navy is seeking a second-generation tactical resupply drone for the Marine Corps, requiring a fuel-powered or hybrid aircraft to carry 100 pounds (about 45 kilograms) of cargo for 40 nautical miles (about 74 kilometers) and return without refueling. Flight demonstrations are scheduled from January 25 to February 5, 2027, in Huntsville, Alabama, with applications due by November 30, 2026.

As Taiwan's drone procurement program moves forward, the Navy is preparing to acquire more than 1,300 small suicide unmanned boats, with a budget approaching NT$30 billion (US$913 million). The tender could launch as early as the end of 2026, prompting local and overseas suppliers to form partnerships and showcase their capabilities at this week's Taiwan Ocean Technology and Unmanned Vehicle Show.

US space company SpaceX has developed reusable Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy rocket boosters, saving between US$32 million and US$46.5 million every time a booster is reused. To date, SpaceX has completed over 650 rocket recoveries; even its payload fairings, valued at US$6 million each, are recoverable and reusable. As Taiwan's orbital rocket program is still in its infancy, the National Science and Technology Council (NSTC) has directed plans to invest in the manufacturing of reusable rocket modules.

Ukrainian defense tech company UFORCE, creator of the Magura unmanned surface vessel credited with disabling or sinking 19 Russian warships in the Black Sea and emerging as a primary threat to Russian naval operations, is actively forging ties with Taiwanese suppliers. Ukraine's real-world combat validation is positioned to act as a launchpad for Taiwanese manufacturers entering the global defense sector.

The Research Institute for Democracy, Society and Emerging Technology (DSET) released a report on November 4 at the 2026 Taiwan Marine Tech & Unmanned Robotics Expo (MATURE Taiwan), examining Taiwan's unmanned boat industry and international cooperation. Experts from Ukraine and the US urged Taiwan and its allies to connect technology networks and move faster.

Taiwan-based IC design house ELAN Microelectronics has announced that a joint proposal submitted with Thunder Tiger and Gallopwave—titled the "Domestic AI Smart Dual-Use Drone Platform and Advanced Handheld Ground Station Comprehensive Solution Project"—has passed review by the Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA) under its IC Top Program and received government subsidies. The project aligns with Taiwan's policy on dual-use drones, which mandates that UAVs procured by public-sector entities and utilized in commercial applications meet military-civilian shared-use standards.

As low capacity utilization, steep tariffs, and fierce competition from Chinese automakers pressure the industry, significant growth in European defense spending is opening new business opportunities for European and US automotive supply chains. Automakers are entering the defense sector through four main models, namely plant conversion, platform adaptation, protection and security, and autonomous logistics, channeling idle capacity and technological strengths into this new blue ocean.