A Singapore Ministry of Defence fact sheet dated 23 October gives an unusually detailed account of unmanned-system activity during Exercise Wallaby 2026 in Queensland, Australia. The exercise runs from 6 September to 2 November, so the document combines completed training with work still to come. It does not announce acceptance of a new drone fleet or counter-UAS system.
Completed activity
For the exercise's second training frame, from 27 September to 17 October, the ministry says Singapore's 11th C4I Battalion operated V-15 mini-unmanned aircraft for surveillance in support of manoeuvre units. The Republic of Singapore Air Force flew Orbiter 4 aircraft for operator proficiency and Army intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance support. Its Drone Rapid Operationalisation, Integration and Deployment programme conducted further trials. AH-64D helicopters trained in an air-defence role against larger unmanned aircraft, while the Digital and Intelligence Service trialled drone-based rapid mapping. The release gives no engagement results, aircraft counts or assessment scores for these activities.
Current and planned evaluations
In the third frame, which began on 18 October, the ministry says it conducted trials involving drones launched from CH-47F helicopters to extend visual coverage and support last-mile surveillance. It also says the Army's next-generation infantry work will employ unmanned systems, and that headquarters Signals and the Defence Science and Technology Agency will evaluate a 5G-enabled aerial communications node and counter-UAS equipment for potential integration. The fact sheet does not identify those counter-UAS systems or report completed qualification.
The significance is the range of air, land and communications roles tested within one major exercise. The evidence remains training and evaluation, not operational approval for each configuration. Subsequent ministry reports may clarify the result of the helicopter-launched trials, counter-UAS tests and next-generation infantry evaluation. The site's Orbiter 4 profile and counter-UAS guide give context for the named aircraft and defensive mission.
Publication history
- — Added Singapore's documented unmanned-system activity at Wallaby while separating completed training from prospective evaluations.
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- Singapore Ministry of Defence, Exercise Wallaby 2026 fact sheet, 23 October 2026 (opens in a new tab)Government exercise fact sheet
