Airbus Helicopters and Singapore’s Defence Science and Technology Agency (DSTA) have signed an agreement to explore the integration of crewed and uncrewed aerial systems, using the Republic of Singapore Air Force’s (RSAF) H225M helicopters and Airbus’s Flexrotor drone.
The trial aims to assess how such teaming can enhance mission effectiveness through improved situational awareness and operational flexibility.
The collaboration will see Airbus’s HTeaming system installed aboard RSAF H225Ms, enabling helicopter crews to control the Flexrotor directly during flight. According to Airbus, this modular system includes a modem, four antennas, a tablet, and custom software, allowing real-time coordination between the crewed platform and the drone.
The concept of crewed-uncrewed teaming has gained momentum across NATO and Asia-Pacific militaries in recent years, with many armed forces seeking ways to blend the persistence and expendability of drones with the tactical judgement of human pilots. For Singapore, this partnership offers a chance to trial such capabilities in realistic operational scenarios.
Bruno Even, CEO of Airbus Helicopters, said the teaming approach “unlocks unprecedented operational flexibility”, while DSTA chief executive Ng Chad-Son described it as “a true force multiplier.” Both organisations highlighted the potential value in high-demand missions, such as search and rescue in challenging weather conditions, for which the H225M is already in RSAF service.
The demonstration phase has yet to be scheduled, and the scope of follow-on integration is still under discussion. However, the initiative places Singapore among a small group of nations formally trialling integrated helicopter-UAS operations at the platform level.
