Time to Accelerate Global Defense Innovation

​Join us and 120+ of the world’s most driven engineers, founders, and operators for the inaugural Singapore Defence Tech Hackathon (SDTH) on September 25–27, 2026.

​We're thrilled to co-organise this hackathon together with TUM Venture Labs and the European Defense Tech Hub.

​This isn’t a typical hackathon.

​It’s designed as a premier global launchpad for defence technology — bringing together international talent, defense innovators, and industry leaders to tackle real-world security challenges.

​Work alongside people who have built, deployed, and operated real-world systems. Meet potential co-founders. Build something that actually matters.

​We’ll prepare challenge tracks based on real operational needs — and you can bring your own project and pressure-test it with experienced mentors to get as close as possible to real-world deployment — fast.

​​This series brings you closer to the leaders who have already mastered the climb, offering the first-hand insights necessary for the challenging road ahead.

​Event details

• ​​25 September 2026 (Friday) 12:00 PM - 27 September 2026 (Sunday) 5:00PM

Join us for the event via this link: https://luma.com/sdth-2026

​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

• ​“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.