Singapore further adapts rotary fleet for unmanned systems warfare

An RSAF crew member deploying an FPV drone from a CH-47. (Singapore MINDEF)

In an effort to counter rapidly evolving battlefield threats, the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) has trialled two operating concepts involving helicopters and unmanned aerial systems (UAS).

The concepts were trialled at Exercise ‘Wallaby' 2026, which is taking place from 6 September to 2 November 2026 at the Shoalwater Bay Training Area of Queensland, Australia

The first initiative features the RSAF's AH-64D Apache Longbow attack helicopters conducting counter-UAS air defence drills against a large unmanned aerial system (UAS).

“Such training adapts the current capabilities of the RSAF for the evolving threat environment”, reads a statement issued by Singapore's Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) regarding the drills.

No details on the UAS system nor weapons used were provided by MINDEF.

However, a footage of the activity appears to show an AH-64D tracking and deploying its primary cannon against a large delta-winged UAS that resembles the Shahed-136.

A second serial saw the RSAF pairing its CH-47F Chinook with at least one quadrotor first-person view (FPV) UAS.

“The RSAF also conducted trials with drones from the CH-47F helicopter, which could be used to extend the aircrew's visual coverage and provide last-mile surveillance for complex operations”, reads a statement provided by MINDEF.

Video footage of the serial showed an RSAF crew member hand-launching the FPV UAS from the open rear ramp of the CH-47F while it was in-flight.

The serial bears resemblance to a similar experiment carried out by the UK Royal Air Force (RAF) in May 2025, where FPV drones controlled by an operator seated aboard a Chinook were hand-launched from the rear ramp.