Singapore’s Defence Science and Technology Agency (DSTA) and the Republic of Korea’s Seadronix Corp (Seadronix) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to jointly advance the capabilities of Unmanned Surface Vessels (USVs).
The partnership offers Seadronix the opportunity to advance its AI-powered maritime perception and autonomous navigation to augment USV capabilities and enable safer, smarter operations in complex maritime environments. The MOU will also support work exchanges between DSTA and Seadronix engineers to facilitate the deepening of technical expertise and exchange of knowledge in USV development. The collaboration was announced on the sidelines of IMDEX Asia 2025.
Chief Executive of DSTA Ng Chad-Son, said, “This collaboration with Seadronix is a prime example of how we are partnering with innovative companies across the world to accelerate our development of next-generation capabilities in AI and autonomy for the Republic of Singapore Navy in the ever-evolving landscape. It’s not just about enhancing capabilities; we are reimagining what’s possible and staying ahead of the curve.”
CEO of Seadronix, Dr Byeolteo Park, said: “We’ve pioneered a path in maritime AI that no one had taken before, developing and deploying autonomous navigation and perception technologies that are now actively used in maritime operations. It is a great honour to collaborate with DSTA in shaping the future of unmanned surface vessels. Together, we aim to enhance the operational readiness of next-generation maritime systems, contributing to the security and defence of Singapore and the broader global economy through trusted, AI-driven technologies.”
DSTA signs deal with The Kinetic Option for maritime drones
Singapore’s Defence Science and Technology Agency (DSTA) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Singapore-based start-up The Kinetic Option (TKO) to jointly develop advanced unmanned maritime drones for the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF). This marks TKO’s first foray into defence and is part of DSTA’s ongoing efforts to collaborate with innovative commercial partners. The partnership will draw on TKO’s expertise in high-speed, electric-powered platforms, alongside DSTA’s systems engineering expertise. Together, the two organisations will co-develop a next-generation modular unmanned maritime drone platform designed for rapid adaptation across a wide range of mission scenarios. Engineers from both teams will work closely together on research, development, testing and evaluation.
Ong Li Koon, DSTA’s Director Naval Systems, said, “As technology evolves rapidly, working with agile partners like TKO allows us to tap their innovative spirit and explore novel ways of developing solutions for defence needs. This partnership reflects how non-traditional collaborations can contribute to strengthening our defence capabilities, and supports the co-development of modular, cost-effective systems that can evolve with future mission demands.”
Daniel He, CEO of TKO, said, “Modular and autonomous platforms have the potential to transform how industries operate and shape future approaches to defence. Our partnership with DSTA allows us to tap into their deep experience in the defence sector while providing cost-efficient, rapidly adaptable and user-friendly platforms that have been rigorously tested.”
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