Aviation News Daily reports, “Japan has officially commenced flight testing for its new EC-2 Stand-Off Jammer aircraft, a specialized electronic warfare platform designed to neutralize enemy sensors from a distance. The aircraft successfully completed its first flight on March 17, 2026, marking a critical milestone in the modernization of the Japan Air Self-Defense Force’s electronic combat capabilities.”
Full Story (Aviation News Daily)
Tag: Japan
Japan’s Next-Generation HTV-X Cargo Vehicle Leaves ISS After Four Months
SPACE reports, “Japan’s new HTV-X cargo spacecraft departed the International Space Station today (March 6) after a four-month stay. The vehicle — known as HTV-X1, because it’s the first of its kind — was released by the station’s Canadarm2 robotic arm today at 12 p.m. EST (1700 GMT), right on schedule.”
Full Story (SPACE)
Video
JAXA’s uncrewed HTV-X1 cargo spacecraft departs from the ISS, after arriving Oct. 29, 2025.
NASA; YouTube
Japan’s New HTV-X Cargo Spacecraft Launches to ISS for 1st Time
SPACE reports, “Japan’s new HTV-X cargo spacecraft launched on its first-ever mission to the International Space Station on Saturday (Oct. 25). The robotic HTV-X lifted off atop an H3 rocket from Japan’s Tanegashima Space Center at 8 p.m. EDT (0000 GMT and 9 a.m local Japan time on Oct. 26).”
Full Story (SPACE)
Video
JAXA HTV-X1 Cargo Launch (Launch occurs at the 15:50 mark)
NASA; YouTube
Japan Agrees to Purchase 100 Boeing Jets
AirInsight reports, “Japan has committed to purchase U.S.-made commercial aircraft, including an agreement to buy 100 Boeing aircraft,” as well as additional annual funding for “purchases of U.S. defense equipment, enhancing interoperability and alliance security in the indo-Pacfic.”
Full Story (AirInsight)
Japan’s H3 Rocket Launches Michibiki 6 Navigation Satellite
Space News reports, “Japan’s flagship H3 rocket successfully launched the Michibiki 6 navigation satellite early Sunday, enhancing the country’s regional GPS capabilities. The Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) H3 rocket lifted off at 3:30 a.m. Eastern (0830 UTC) Feb. 2 from Tanegashima Space Center. Aboard was the 1,900-kilogram Michibiki 6 satellite, also known as the Quasi-Zenith Satellite System (QZS-6), for Japan’s navigation satellite system.”
Full Story (Space News)
Video
Japan’s flagship H3 rocket launches Michibiki 6 aboard H3-22S (Launch at 0:45:57 mark)
(The Launch Pad; YouTube)
Japan Clears V-22 Osprey Fleet to Resume Flights
Flying Magazine reports, “The Japan Self-Defense Force (JSDF) has cleared its V-22 Osprey fleet to return to flight after determining pilot error was the cause of an October accident on Yonaguni Island. The incident occurred during a joint exercise with U.S. military where the V-22 Osprey tilted and hit the ground as it was taking off, though no injuries were reported among the 16 on board.”
Full Story (Flying Magazine)
Japan Grounds Ospreys Following Hard Landing During Exercise
Aviation Week reports, “The Japan Ground Self-Defense Force (JGSDF) has grounded its fleet of Bell Boeing V-22 Ospreys following a hard landing incident. The Japan Defense Ministry Joint Staff says the incident took place on the country’s Yonaguni Island on Oct. 27. The V-22 was participating in Exercise Keen Sword, a joint wargame with the U.S. military, where it was transporting military personnel simulating a medical evacuation.”
Full Story (Aviation Week)
Japan Gets Seats on Artemis Moon-landing Missions in Exchange for Lunar Rover
Ars Technica reports, “US and Japanese officials have signed an agreement to cement a partnership that will pave the way for a Japanese astronaut to walk on the Moon. The Japanese astronaut, still unnamed, will become the first international astronaut to walk on the Moon under the auspices of the NASA-led Artemis program.”
Full Story (Ars Technica)
Japan’s Space One Rocket Explodes Moments After Launch
AP News reports, “A commercial rocket trying to put a satellite into orbit was intentionally exploded shortly after liftoff Wednesday morning in central Japan following a problem that’s still under investigation.” Space One was attempting to become “Japan’s first private sector success at putting a satellite into orbit.”
Full Story (AP News)
Videos
Japanese rocket explodes moments after launch
(7News Australia; YouTube)
SLIM Moon Lander Powers Back on
Space News reports that Japan’s SLIM moon lander “has resumed operations more than a week after its imperfect yet historic lunar landing.” The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) “confirmed contact had been reestablished with the Smart Lander for Investigating Moon (SLIM) spacecraft late Jan. 28.” The development “comes just days ahead of a likely mission-ending sunset.” The large SUV-sized spacecraft “was forced to power down just two over hours after landing Jan. 19 due to its solar cell not generating electricity.” SLIM finally “powered up again as the position of the sun in the sky changed, finally illuminated SLIM’s solar cell.”
Full Story (Space News)