BACK
TO TOP
09 Aug 2026
As Singapore celebrated its 61st year of independence, DSTA's staff once again worked hard behind the scenes to help bring the parade to life. In the months leading up to the National Day Parade (NDP), held this year at the National Stadium, teams across DSTA lent their expertise across many domains, each playing an essential role.
Senior Programme Manager (Land Systems) Kwek Qing Wei (second from right), with his team and 300 drones ahead of NDP.
New to this year's celebrations was a spectacular drone light show. Behind it was a team, consisting of DSTA, the NDP Show Team and industry partners, choreographing hundreds of drones down to the second. Each drone knew exactly where to be and what colour to display at every moment. Since satellite positioning wasn't available inside the stadium, the drones relied on an indoor positioning system to pinpoint their exact position in the air. Multiple safety layers let each drone land itself safely if it fell behind.
“While the performance may only last a few minutes, it's backed by months of planning, engineering, testing and rehearsals. Behind every drone formation are countless hours of simulations, system integration, flight testing and refinements,” said Senior Programme Manager (Land Systems) Kwek Qing Wei.
Senior Engineer (Building and Infrastructure) Timothy Huang (centre), Co-Chairman of the Infrastructure and Decorations Committee, with his team at the NDP stage.
The Infrastructure and Decorations Committee – comprising DSTA and the Singapore Army – planned, coordinated and supervised the safe construction of structures and decorations across the National Stadium, creating a vibrant, celebratory atmosphere for NDP 2026.
Bringing NDP into an enclosed venue presented a unique set of challenges, which the team smartly overcame – from the building’s access constraints to sequencing construction within a compressed timeline. The result was a stunning arrow-shaped stage, crowned by a suspended structure that turned the space above the performers into a canvas for the show's visuals.
“The feature of this year's NDP is the structure above the stage — a 46-metre-long cuboid with a projection surface, along with five smaller cubes rising and falling inside it. Getting that up there safely while it moved and projected the visuals was the hardest part of this build," said Senior Engineer (Building and Infrastructure) Timothy Huang, Co-Chairman of the Infrastructure and Decorations Committee.
Principal Engineer (Building and Infrastructure) Koh Seng Yang (left), Co-Chairman of the Power Support Committee, ensuring a steady supply of power with his team throughout the parade.
Every light, screen and speaker ran on a robust, resilient power supply throughout the show – kept seamless by the Power Support Committee, a joint effort between DSTA and the RSAF's Air Engineering & Logistics Department. Alongside conventional generators, the team advanced its sustainability efforts, tapping solar energy and battery storage to power parts of the parade.
Programme Manager (Advanced Systems) Gerk Chang Yee (centre), Chairman of the PA and Sound Committee and his team.
Delivering an immersive sound experience in one of the most acoustically demanding settings – a large, enclosed dome where sound behaves very differently from an open field – took close collaboration between the PA and Sound Committee and the NDP Creative and Technical teams. From rousing music and crisp speeches to the precise timing of every announcement, they made sure every moment of the celebration was heard, loud and clear.
Senior Engineer (Land Systems) Lim Shi Yu (right) and Senior Engineer (Land Systems) Nicholas Chua of the Fireworks Safety Committee assessed the safety distances required for the fireworks used at NDP 2026
As fireworks lit up the night sky, the Fireworks Safety Committee – DSTA together with SAF Ammunition Command – treated every burst with the utmost care. Firing within an enclosed venue brought a particular consideration: smoke. The team prioritised selecting fireworks that produced less smoke to minimise potential health concerns while ensuring the performance remained clearly visible to the audience. Every firing point was meticulously prepared for a safe, breathtaking display.
The Integrated Operations Centre Committee collaborated with the SAF to monitor the parade grounds in real time.
Coordinating security operations for a parade of this scale was the Integrated Operations Centre Committee, which served as the key hub for NDP 2026. Drawing together real-time monitoring and coordination across the venue, the team relied on smart technology to support quick, informed decisions that kept the show safe and running smoothly.
The Procurement Team sourced a large variety of items and services, contributing to an eye-catching NDP.
From costumes and props to screens and core infrastructure, the Procurement Team sourced it all, quietly underpinning every element of NDP 2026. Every purchase also upheld the three principles of government procurement: transparency, value for money, and open and fair competition.
“We collaborated closely with the NDP committees to understand the pain points from both parties and the thinking behind each decision. We can then work hand in hand to resolve any challenges during the process,” said Procurement Manager Kang Yun Ting.
DSTA Chief Executive (CE) Ng Chad-Son and senior management with staff supporting NDP.
These teams, and many more across DSTA, spent months working behind the scenes. Their shared goal is a simple: to help deliver a memorable National Day Parade for the nation.