JAXA Concludes Modification to the Agreement with the Vietnam National Space Center (VNSC) on Satellite Data Exchange

The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) has concluded a “Modification to the Agreement between the Vietnam National Space Center (VNSC), Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, and JAXA on the Exchange of Satellite Data” (dated April 28, 2026).
On May 2, 2026, at the Office of the Prime Minister of Viet Nam, the agreement was formally exchanged in the presence of Ms. Sanae Takaichi, Prime Minister of Japan, who was visiting Viet Nam for the Japan–Viet Nam Summit Meeting, and H.E. Mr. Le Minh Hung, Prime Minister of Viet Nam. The exchange was conducted by Mr. Yasuo Ishii, Senior Vice President of JAXA, and Dr. Le Xuan Huy, Deputy Director General of VNSC.

JAXA’s Advanced Land Observing Satellite-2 “DAICHI-2” (ALOS-2) is capable of observing the Earth’s surface regardless of weather conditions and time of day. It is also highly effective for vegetation monitoring. Based on these strengths, JAXA and VNSC signed the original agreement in September 2017 to utilize ALOS-2 data for addressing challenges in disaster management and agriculture and forestry, and have since cooperated in these fields.

This modification enhances the existing cooperation by adding the provision of observation data from the successor satellite, “DAICHI-4” (ALOS-4), in addition to ALOS-2. This is expected to strengthen monitoring of increasingly frequent flood disasters in Viet Nam. Furthermore, as part of the Space Applications for Environment (SAFE) initiative under the Asia-Pacific Regional Space Agency Forum (APRSAF), the partnership will strengthen joint research and development led by VNSC on the use of satellite data to reduce methane emissions from rice paddies. The project aims to utilize ALOS-2 and ALOS-4 data to monitor water inundation conditions in rice paddies, contributing to the creation of carbon credits through methane mitigation. JAXA also prioritizes this initiative, which balances climate change mitigation with the creation of socio-economic benefits.

This satellite data exchange cooperation was identified as a top priority in the field of science and technology in the “List of Priority Cooperation Items between Japan and Viet Nam in the areas of science and technology, innovation, digital transformation, and economic security,” confirmed at the Japan–Viet Nam Summit Meeting.

JAXA will continue to collaborate with VNSC toward the launch of LOTUSat-1, which is currently under development by VNSC with support from Japan’s Official Development Assistance (ODA). Through this cooperation, JAXA aims to contribute to land observation including disaster monitoring in Viet Nam by utilizing JAXA’s Earth observation satellites, while also supporting the expansion of operational use in government and industry of satellite data.

[Reference Link]
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan: Japan–Viet Nam Summit Meeting between Prime Minister TAKAICHI and Prime Minister Le Minh Hung (May 2, 2026)