The tenth Singapore Airshow held a media preview on February 1 at the Changi Exhibition Centre, ahead of the fair’s public run from February 3 to 8. The short display gathered a cross-section of regional and extra‑regional platforms, from an Australian RAAF F‑35A and a Malaysian Su‑30MKM to Singaporean Apaches and F‑16Cs, underlining the show’s role as both an aerospace marketplace and a stage for defence signalling.
Notably, a COMAC C919 — China’s domestically built narrow‑body airliner — performed a flight demonstration alongside military types, emphasising that the event serves dual commercial and strategic purposes. For manufacturers, the airshow is an opportunity to showcase airworthiness, open sales dialogues, and reassure operators and suppliers about reliability and integration in global aviation supply chains.
The mix of fourth‑ and fifth‑generation fighters and attack helicopters reflects continuing regional military modernisation and procurement diversity. The presence of an F‑35A highlights Australia’s increasingly visible role in regional defence interoperability with U.S. systems, while the Su‑30MKM and Apaches illustrate how Southeast Asian states balance legacy and newer platforms to meet varied security needs.
Beyond hardware, the preview underscores Singapore’s position as a neutral convening space where Western, Chinese and regional aerospace industries meet. The airshow will likely set the tone for deals, partnerships and technical exchanges that matter for defence diplomacy and commercial aviation competition across Asia Pacific in 2026.