Singapore’s Defence Science and Technology Agency (DSTA) has been working with local start-up BeeX to customise and co-develop solutions with their Hovering Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (HAUVs). Building on this partnership, DSTA awarded a contract on behalf of the Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) to BeeX for the acquisition of the HAUVs. This allows DSTA and the SAF to build advanced underwater capabilities for the HAUVs to operate effectively in Singapore’s challenging underwater environment.
Working closely with BeeX on other projects, DSTA aims to also explore solutions that enhance seabed scanning with better autonomy and accuracy. These efforts underscore DSTA’s agility in tapping not only traditional defence players, but also commercial companies and start-ups to harness novel ideas and accelerate innovation. By leveraging commercial technologies and adapting them for defence, DSTA develops new capabilities quickly to strengthen the SAF’s technological edge.
“Start-ups are often the wellspring of bold ideas. In today’s rapidly evolving defence landscape, it is crucial that we tap promising technologies and help transform them into innovations for real-world applications. Our collaboration with BeeX demonstrates how leveraging commercial, dual use technology can fuel innovation, drive us to deliver transformative capabilities and sharpen Singapore’s defence edge,” said DSTA’s Director Naval Systems Ong Li Koon.