Singapore Airshow 2026: ST Engineering debuts small, explosive payload-capable UAV

An indoor variant of the ARTOS UAV, seen here at the Singapore Airshow 2026, with a simulated explosive payload. (Janes/Ridzwan Rahmat)

ST Engineering has unveiled a small, autonomous unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) that can be equipped with an explosive payload.

The system, known as the ARTOS, made its debut at the Singapore Airshow 2026, signalling the company's continuing push into compact, autonomous platforms for urban and close‑quarters combat operations.

Positioned as a high‑performance, low‑SWaP (size, weight, and power) multimission UAV, the ARTOS is designed to support forces operating in dense, cluttered, or contested environments.

According to system specifications displayed at the show, the UAV features a maximum take‑off weight (MTOW) of up to 1.8 kg, a payload capacity of up to 500 g, and a compact 328×383×116 mm airframe.

Speaking to Janes at the airshow, a company representative described the ARTOS' payload suite as fully modular and can be configured to meet a wide spectrum of mission demands.

While it can carry an explosive charge for anti-personnel and anti-vehicle operations, other payload possibilities include non‑lethal options such as smoke grenades, the representative said.

For indoor operations, ST Engineering has developed a variant of the ARTOS that is equipped with propeller guards to reduce the risk of damage when manoeuvring close to walls or obstacles.

This version also incorporates a software‑stitched camera system that provides operators with a wider combined field-of-view – an important feature when navigating tight interior spaces where situational awareness is often limited.

In addition to the software-stitched camera system, the ARTOS can be equipped with a small pan-tilt-zoom camera for outdoor missions.

Alongside the ARTOS, ST Engineering is debuting two other new hand-launched UAV systems known as the ARTEX and the ARES respectively.