In early February 2026, the 10th Singapore Airshow was held in\nSingapore. Marketed as the largest annual aerospace and defence\nexhibition, the airshow serves not only as a commercial event but also\nas a reflection of national defence industrial capabilities and broader\ngeopolitical competition. Compared with the relatively region-focused\ndefence exhibitions in Japan and South Korea, the Singapore Airshow\ntargets a far more diverse global market, naturally attracting defence\ncompanies from different political and strategic camps.<\/p>\n
China once again participated by renting exhibition space behind the\nmain booths of the host company, ST Engineering. A large-scale model of\nthe J-35 stealth fighter was on display. There were also live flight\ndemonstrations by the People\u2019s Liberation Army Air Force\u2019s August 1st\nAerobatic Team flying the J-10C. Chinese sources emphasised that the\nJ-10C aircraft flew to Singapore using aerial refuelling throughout the\njourney, and during the airshow conducted multiple formation\nflights.<\/p>\n
However, aviation enthusiasts attending the event noted that the\nJ-10C\u2019s flight demonstration remained conservative, with no display of\naggressive vertical climbs or high-angle-of-attack manoeuvres. Some\nanalysts argue that future air combat will place less emphasis on\nindividual aircraft performance and more on cost-effective,\nsystem-of-systems operations. From this perspective, the J-10C\u2019s\nrestrained performance was intended to highlight its affordability and\nits suitability for helping budget-constrained countries rapidly\nestablish an integrated air combat force.<\/p>\n
This approach was also reflected in the participation of numerous\nChinese civilian component suppliers, including manufacturers of\nbearings, seals, valves, and other defence supply chain products. At the\nsame time, it was noticeable that the number of Chinese exhibitors had\ndeclined compared to previous years. This reduction appears to stem from\nincreasing international procurement restrictions on non-Western supply\nchains, as well as tighter domestic government subsidies for overseas\nexhibitions. While Chinese products continue to enjoy price advantages,\ntheir target markets are increasingly focused on customers with limited\ndefence budgets or those procuring consumable or expendable systems.<\/p>\n
Unmanned systems remained a central focus of the airshow. The global\nUAV market is increasingly polarised. Companies such as Anduril\nIndustries \u2014 well known for its frequent interactions with Taiwan \u2014\nshowcased UAVs integrating AI systems, stealth-oriented designs, and\nextensive use of carbon-fibre composite materials, such as the \u201cFury\u201d\ndrone, developed to support fifth-generation fighter \u201cloyal wingman\u201d\nconcepts.<\/p>\n
However, lessons drawn from the war in Ukraine and recent conflicts\nin the Middle East have highlighted that unmanned platforms are no\nlonger primarily reusable assets, but increasingly function as\nexpendable munitions for one-way attack missions. As a result, the\nability to mass-produce systems quickly and at low cost has become a\ncritical factor. In the small- and medium-sized UAV segment, trends\ninclude the use of 3D-printed modular components, simplified operating\nprocedures, and designs that allow operators with minimal training to\ndeploy systems rapidly. These developments reflect the growing emphasis\non low-cost, attritable unmanned capabilities.<\/p>\n
In response to demographic challenges such as declining birth rates,\nmany exhibitors also showcased solutions aimed at maximising manpower\nefficiency and reducing training costs. Virtual-reality-based training\nsimulators and more intuitive, human-centred control interfaces were\nnotable highlights of the exhibition.<\/p>\n
In the field of counter-UAV systems, attention extended beyond\nelectronic warfare and signal jamming. A key focus was on how to counter\nlow-cost drones using equally cost-effective defensive methods. Concepts\non display included the integration of proximity fuzes \u2014 first developed\nduring World War II \u2014 with AI technologies and modern intelligence,\nsurveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) systems. Using drones to\nintercept other drones was also presented as a viable option.<\/p>\n
These approaches, however, significantly increase demands on power\ngeneration and energy management. Improving energy efficiency, reducing\nsystem weight through advanced materials engineering, and enhancing\nsystem integration and autonomous control were recurring themes,\nparticularly at Japanese exhibitors\u2019 booths, where civil-military\ntechnological integration was clearly evident.<\/p>\n
Beyond the defence industry, Singapore also hosted its first Space\nSummit (Space Summit 2026) during the airshow and announced the\nestablishment of the Singapore National Space Agency (NSAS) in April.\nOrganisers indicated that future Singapore Airshows will increasingly\nintegrate space technologies.<\/p>\n
Some observers question whether Singapore truly requires a dedicated\nspace strategy, unlike major powers such as the United States and China,\nor regional actors like Japan, South Korea, and India. However, modern\nspace strategies no longer demand the high costs or dedicated launch\nfacilities of the past. In particular, the deployment of low-Earth-orbit\n(LEO) satellites and other small satellites can be supported through\ncommercial providers and international cooperation, significantly\nreducing entry barriers and costs.<\/p>\n
LEO satellite communications are expected to be one of the primary\nmotivations behind Singapore\u2019s establishment of a national space agency.\nIn terms of resilience, Singapore shares concerns similar to those of\nTaiwan: whether redundant communication systems can be maintained under\nattack or persistent grey-zone pressure. LEO satellite communications\nare directly relevant to these resilience challenges.<\/p>\n
These developments suggest that future Singapore Airshows will expand\nfurther in scale and scope, attracting a broader range of military and\ncivilian participants. As global aerospace and defence supply chains\nundergo restructuring, companies are no longer evaluating partners\nsolely on cost considerations. Resilience, political reliability, and\ngeopolitical alignment are becoming equally important. For many firms,\nthese shifts also represent new opportunities to enter or reposition\nthemselves within the evolving defence industrial landscape.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/singapore-airshow-2026-and-asias-defence-industry-1771304444", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }