Singapore Defense Tech Hackathon

about this event

Time to Accelerate Global Defense Innovation: Join 120+ of the world's most driven engineers, founders, and operators at the Singapore Defense Tech Hackathon (SDTH) on September 25–27, 2026. This isn't a typical hackathon. It's a premier global launchpad for defense technology. Work alongside international talent, defense innovators, and industry leaders to tackle real-world security challenges together. Meet potential co-founders. Build something that actually matters.

Our Mission — Readying the Little Red Dome: The future of attritable aerial salvos will overwhelm traditional, sequential air defense systems. Revamp these legacy systems with the next generation of technology: With agentic AI, physics & digital twins at its core, compose robust defense products with commercially available technology. Build a new, comprehensive and investable idea that will secure safer skies. Getting sensors, C2, and shooters right is only half the battle. The other half is manufacturing and sustaining low-cost interceptors locally, without being held hostage by export controls or distant logistics chains. Agentic AI, next-generation perception, and additive manufacturing are three parts of the same answer.

Main Category: 2-day Challenge. 2-day challenge tracks will be revealed to all registered participants one week before the event. Apply as a Hacker. Focus Areas: Autonomous Command & Control (C2), AI & Agentic Systems, Sensor-to-Shooter Integration, Counter-UAS & Drone Swarms, Maritime Security & Littoral Defense, Electronic Warfare (EW), Resilient Communications, Space-Based Infrastructure & Defense, Modular, Integrated Defense Systems, and 'Defense Dome' architectures for city-scale protection.

By Invitation Only: 3-Month Extended Challenge. A small number of applicants will be personally invited to take on a 3-Month Extended Challenge — an exclusive track for teams ready to work on problems a weekend cannot contain. Harder, more consequential, and deliberately ambitious. 3-months to work on three open questions to build on our mission, or the domain of your choice, at the frontier of defense technology: Track A: Can we build interceptors fast, cheap, and smart enough to match modern drone warfare, without skilled pilots or expensive supply chains? Track B: Can we design a sensing architecture that holds its picture when hundreds of threats arrive simultaneously? Track C: Can we keep meaningful human judgment in the loop when autonomous warfare has already outrun human reaction time? Track D: Based on your work and interests, you may also work on deep-tech in the domain of your choice, as long as it is relevant to defense. Do tell us more about your prior experience when you apply as a Hacker.

Selected teams receive mentorship, a per-project budget, and upgraded prizes. Apply as a Hacker. We'll be in touch. (You may participate in both the 3-month & 2-day challenges!)

The Prizes: Prizes worth up to $30,000, including a $12,000 top prize. SDTH is Phase 1 of a 9-month incubation program through the NUS Defence Tech Venture Lab. The strongest teams get incubated at NUS with milestone-based funding, mentorship, access to defence testbeds and expert and investor networks. It is a direct pathway from first prototype to funded defense startup, with roots in Singapore, solving challenges that matter globally. More details will be shared in June.

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