The National Infinite Stratos Space Association.
A sub-group of America's long-lived NASA institute, NSISA has become a world leader in the precocious development of outer thermosphere and beyond. The US has since developed two functional IS frames capable of space-faring travel and combat, but has little true combat testing to truly back up its proposed power. The Zeus-10, the first SIS to be put onto the production line, was a ground-breaking achievement, effectively placing the US again as the leading space power. Russia tags behind at a close second, releasing reports on its first SIS frame months later. Japan came third, but had produced three different frames at the same time, though they have -as of yet- failed to put on a factory floor. One of the frames, the Tsukuyomi, still possesses the largest core energy supply out of all other released frames. While Russia and the US still contend like old times, they are effectively passing Japan in production and innovation. The US cores are based on a median; a standard frame amongst other SIS with no overall dominance in specific roles. An all-around character that succeeds and fails at nothing. Russian frames stress mobility in space, as well as being the only country to essentially overlook the Treaty of Paris, which dictated orbital bombardment weaponry as illegal. Such weapons are only usable on ground targets, and require intense computational yield, rendering the Russian frame, Tsar, useless in SIS-SIS combat.
The calculated leaders in SIS Technology are as follows:
-US has produced 2 usable frames
-Russia has produced 3 usable frames
-Japan has produced 3 usable frames
-China and all below have produced or utilized from another country 1 frame
-India
-Germany
-France
-Great Britain
-Israel
Though other countries have reached space in the past, all countries not listed here have yet to develop SIS frames. The SIS are not cheap in the slightest.
It is safe to say however, that these machines are the dominant weapons in space environments, even against most (if not all) Gen-3 IS produced on the ground. The frames are larger than normal, accountable due to its higher-density materials, of which are easily usable in space due to a lack of gravity. All SIS lack any form of solid projectile weapons (save the Russian Tsar), and instead rely solely on energy weapons. Technological advancements that were established in the USTB worked for a beam weapon standard that prevented stray shots from heading Earth bound and touching down, harming innocents potentially. These energy weapons dissipate at a rate that prevents Space-to-Ground contact, further allowing SIS to freely move and fire about space. The NSISA has further developed the technology, producing a potent weapon unique to the organization; homing lasers. The homing laser outperforms average missiles, requiring little distance to hit the target, able to turn on a dime in combat. The laser focal points t the anterior ends also feature a radio-wave sensory-type energy, which can cancel out the laser and prevent Earthly contact. On the flip-side, homing lasers a quite glitchy and imperfect, frequently dissipating before contact or outright losing focus on the opponent. A new model on the drawing board heavily utilizes homing laser technology, though the Lateralus is capable of equipping old-type homing lasers.
In retaliation to such high-activity weapons, Russia has further developed mobility in their IS systems, as well as starting a blueprint for their own homing laser tech. Russian SIS frames are ridiculously nimble in space, capable of instantaneous 0 to 1000^ kph speeds. The US NSISA lacks such quick schemes, but makes up for it in a higher firepower and armor. The Japanese have a similar focus to the NSISA, but stress to a higher degree, the development of weaponry.
It is projected that SIS-Combat can meet tournament capability in ten years, as the variation in frames and regulations and safety precautions have yet to be perfected. The Japanese have taken the initiative towards tournament games for the SIS, which was to be expected, but the US and Russia lag behind, too focused on military capability.
Though the US has yet to create an orbital bombardment SIS, it has been deduced through espionage that if a war came around, they;d have an SIS ready to go toe-to-toe with Russia's Tsar. The project name of the frame is unknown, and evidence is sketchy, nonetheless. Both the US and Russia have mutually agreed to a five-year plan in which SIS would be unmanned for combat testing to spur on development which has stagnated in recent years.