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 DSEi JAPAN SHOW PREVIEW
MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC, Mitsubishi Electric Corporation and Astroscale

Holdings, a market leader in satellite servicing
ASTROSCALE TO MAKE and long-term sustainability across all orbits,
have agreed to collaborate in the joint develop-
ment and manufacturing of sustainably designed
SATELLITE BUSES satellite buses for Japanese national security
constellations. Mitsubishi Electric Corp., a leading
defence and space company, has also invested
US$25 million in Astroscale’s Series G funding
round.

The satellite buses will be equipped with an
Astroscale docking plate, similar to a car tow
hook, with a standardised interface. This allows
other spacecraft to dock with and move or
remove satellites if they are unable to deorbit
themselves at the end of their operational lives.
Preparing satellites in this sustainable manner
minimises costs and maximises safety for future
on-orbit servicing.
“The world depends on satellites more than ever
before, so if the orbital environment is disrupted
or becomes unusable, our lives will be irrevocably
changed,” said Nobu Okada, Founder and CEO
of Astroscale.

“Space is a special domain shared by the equally
important commercial, civil and defence sec-
tors. We are proud to partner with Mitsubishi
Electric to assure that our orbital environment
remains safe, secure and sustainable, and that
more objects operating in space are designed
for future servicing and removal,” Okada said.

LEONARDO-MITSUBISHI JAGUAR PROJECT PROGRESSING

The Jaguar advanced technology demonstrator programme, Communications System). Isanke is a ‘spider’s
developed by Leonardo UK and Mitsubishi Electric, to support web’ of capability that sits across an aircraft,
the development work of the sixth-generation fighters is making unlocking the potential of sixth generation
steady progress. sensors by moving from distinct pieces of
equipment to integrated systems, while ICS
Leonardo believes that the strength of the relationship with connects the Isanke system into the wider
Mitsubishi Electric and the progress delivered to-date has proven FCAS system-of-systems.
the workability of complex engineering between the UK and Japan
and demonstrated the ease of the working relationship. The move by the UK and Japan’s respective
champions in combat air electronics fol-
Early concerns over language and time zone barriers have proven lows the completion of joint concept work
unfounded and given way to a relationship that is highly work- and feasibility studies earlier last year. The
able, highly cooperative and very trusting, according to Leonardo. project is now proceeding at pace, in line
Jaguar represents the very latest in combat air sensing technology with Leonardo’s broader approach to Future
and will provide enhanced radar functions as well as advanced Combat Air System (FCAS) partnerships, where
new capabilities that can disrupt and deny adversary surveillance close collaboration is supported by agile deci-
systems. sion-making and a transformational ethos
imported from Silicon Valley, the company
It will be the first big building block of an international radar pro- said. The relationship between Leonardo UK
gramme that meets the ambitions laid out by Japan and the UK as and Mitsubishi Electric has been deepening
part of F-X/FCAS discussions. Technology and learnings generated for several years and the partners have been
by Jaguar work will feed into the development of Tempest’s Isanke exploring the feasibility of further Isanke-
& ICS (Integrated Sensing and Non-Kinetic Effects & Integrated related sub-systems collaboration.
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