Drones Move to Centre Stage
Several US drone manufacturers made their first major appearances at the Singapore Airshow this week, seeking to expand beyond Pentagon contracts and tap rising demand across Asia as concerns grow over China’s expanding military capabilities.
Once dominated by commercial aircraft and fighter jets, major air shows are increasingly shaped by unmanned systems. From palm-sized explosive drones to unmanned fighter aircraft, drones have moved from the fringes to centre stage as military leaders, intelligence officials and defence executives assess technologies that could define future conflicts in the Pacific.
The prominence of drones has been driven in large part by their effectiveness in the war in Ukraine, where unmanned systems have played a decisive role on both sides. That experience has fuelled investment into US drone and military artificial intelligence firms such as Anduril Industries and Shield AI, significantly boosting their valuations.
US Firms Pitch Battlefield Experience
Although most drones used by Ukraine are domestically produced, US companies including Anduril, Shield AI, AeroVironment and Neros Technologies have supplied systems to Kyiv. They are now leveraging that battlefield experience to court militaries across Taiwan, the Philippines, Singapore, Australia, South Korea and Japan.
Shield AI said its V-BAT reconnaissance drone has logged hundreds of operational hours in Ukraine, demonstrating its ability to function in contested environments where GPS and communications are disrupted. At the airshow, the company announced it would supply Singapore’s ST Engineering with its Hivemind AI autonomy software.
US firms argue that their combat-tested systems and early backing from the Pentagon make them well placed to meet Asia’s growing defence needs as China strengthens its regional presence.
Asia Offices and New Contracts
Several companies are also deepening their physical footprint in the region. Anduril opened offices in Taiwan, South Korea and Japan in 2025 and has secured sales of its loitering munition drones to Taiwan. Alongside smaller systems, US firms showcased models of Collaborative Combat Aircraft — so-called “loyal wingman” drones designed to operate alongside crewed fighter jets.
Smaller manufacturers are also scaling up. Neros Technologies plans to establish factories in multiple Asian countries to build large stockpiles of expendable attack drones, while Red Cat announced an order for its Black Widow reconnaissance drone from an unnamed Asia-Pacific customer.
Executives say regional uncertainty and China’s military ambitions are driving Asian allies to accelerate drone procurement, reshaping defence priorities across the region.