Several U.S. drone companies debuted at the Singapore Airshow this week, aiming to expand sales beyond Pentagon contracts to Asian nations increasingly wary of China’s growing military presence. The spotlight on drones comes as regional militaries seek advanced systems capable of countering threats in contested environments, including the Taiwan Strait.
Drones Take Centre Stage
The conflict in Ukraine has demonstrated the battlefield effectiveness of drones, fueling a surge of Silicon Valley investment in drone and military AI startups. Firms such as Anduril Industries, Shield AI, Neros Technologies, and AeroVironment have supplied Ukraine with unmanned systems, and now hope to leverage their experience to attract Asian buyers.
At the airshow, drones of all sizes from palm-sized kamikaze quadcopters to unmanned fighter jets dominated attention, signaling a shift in military procurement priorities from traditional aircraft toward autonomous and semi-autonomous systems. Shield AI, for example, showcased its $700,000 V-BAT reconnaissance drone and announced a partnership to supply Singapore’s ST Engineering with its AI autonomy software suite, Hivemind.
US Firms Expand in Asia
Anduril, valued at $30 billion in 2025, has opened offices in Taiwan, South Korea, and Japan, and has already sold Altius loitering munition drones to Taiwan. Alongside smaller drones, Anduril and Shield AI displayed Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA), “loyal wingman” fighter-jet drones priced around $30 million each, designed to fly alongside manned fighters.
Neros Technologies, with a U.S. Marine Corps contract for its Archer quadcopter attack drone, plans factories in South Korea, the Philippines, Singapore, and Japan to stockpile expendable drones capable of overwhelming Chinese forces. Red Cat also announced a sale of its Black Widow short-range reconnaissance quadcopter to an unnamed Asia-Pacific customer.
Regional Security Drivers
Companies at the airshow emphasized that demand in Asia is driven by regional uncertainty and the need for advanced surveillance, intelligence, and strike capabilities under GPS and communication jamming. Asia-Pacific militaries see drones as cost-effective force multipliers that can provide tactical advantages in potential conflicts with China.
Brandon Tseng, co-founder of Shield AI, told Reuters, “They’re looking for the ability to conduct intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance operations while GPS and communications are jammed … it’s what we’re offering to a number of different countries in the region.”
Analysis: Drones Reshape Regional Defense
The push by U.S. drone makers highlights a broader strategic shift in Asia-Pacific defense. Autonomous and semi-autonomous systems offer smaller nations a way to counter the numerical and technological superiority of Chinese forces. With battlefield-tested experience in Ukraine and Pentagon backing, U.S. firms are marketing their drones as proven, cutting-edge solutions for contested environments.
The expansion also reflects growing U.S. efforts to deepen defense ties with regional allies through private sector channels, complementing traditional military aid and sales. As China continues to strengthen its military capabilities, drones are increasingly viewed as a key tool in maintaining regional deterrence, signaling that future conflicts in the Pacific could be shaped as much by autonomous systems as by traditional armed forces.
With information from Reuters.
