Singapore has partnered with US defense firm Epirus under a memorandum of understanding to evaluate high-power microwave technology for counter-drone operations. The collaboration, involving Singapore’s Defence Science and Technology Agency, will assess systems that disable unmanned aircraft by inducing electromagnetic interference rather than relying on kinetic effects. The focus is on countering emerging threats such as fiber-optic guided and AI-enabled “dark drones,” which are resistant to conventional electronic warfare. Joint testing and technical exchanges will examine system performance against individual drones and coordinated swarm attacks across multiple environments. The partnership follows Epirus’ December 2025 demonstration in which its Leonidas system successfully neutralized a fiber-optic guided drone, marking a milestone in electromagnetic counter-UAS capability development.
