US Drone Firms Expand Asia Sales Amid China Concerns

U.S. drone manufacturers, including Anduril Industries, Shield AI, Neros Technologies, AeroVironment, and Red Cat Holdings, are actively expanding their customer base across Asia, moving beyond traditional United States===United States Department of Defense contracts. This expansion is largely driven by rising geopolitical tensions in the Pacific, particularly concerns over China's expanding military capabilities, and the proven battlefield effectiveness of drones in the Russia-Ukraine war. These firms showcased their combat-proven technologies, ranging from kamikaze quadcopters to 'loyal wingman' fighter-jet drones, at the Singapore Airshow. Key developments include Anduril Industries opening offices in Taiwan, South Korea, and Japan, and securing drone sales to Taiwan; Shield AI supplying its AI software to ST Engineering in Singapore; and Neros Technologies planning manufacturing facilities in South Korea, the Philippines, Singapore, and Japan to build drone stockpiles. Major U.S. defense contractors like Boeing, General Atomics, Lockheed Martin, and Northrop Grumman are also developing Collaborative Combat Aircraft platforms, further indicating a significant shift in defense strategies towards unmanned systems.