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Singapore Technologies Engineering or ST Engineering ( ST Engg.) is a Singapore-based multinational technology, defence and engineering group with a diverse portfolio of businesses across the aerospace, smart city, defence and public security segments.
As of 2024, it was the eighth largest company on the Singapore Exchange by market capitalisation. It is a component stock of MSCI Singapore, FTSE Straits Times Index and Dow Jones Best-in-Class Asia Pacific Index. The company is ranked among the top 100 global defence manufacturers by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) and Defense News based on defence segment and total revenue respectively.
The Singapore Technology Corporation (STC), established in 1983, briefly served as a holding company to consolidate the manufacturing and service capabilities of the ordnance-related companies, with the exception of Bofors-linked joint venture Allied Ordnance Company of Singapore (AOS), which later became a subsidiary of CIS in 1988. Sheng-Li Holding Company was later succeeded as the Singapore Technologies Holdings (SingTech, or ST) on 11 May 1990, through a series of restructure and re-consolidation following the introduction of its new corporate identity and sunburst logo in 1989.
The following companies were instrumental in the foundation of ST Engineering.
In its early years, CIS focused on licensed manufacturing and subcontracted work for foreign ordnance producers. During this period, the company's engineers and technicians gained experience in development and production of munitions across various calibers.
By 1996, CIS, through its subsidiaries, had expanded its operations to produce various types of ordnance for the SAF and international export. Its subsidiaries included:
In 1973, CIS formed Allied Ordnance of Singapore (AOS) in partnership with Sweden's Bofors to manufacture quick-firing anti-aircraft (40mm) and naval (57mm) guns, along with their ammunition and fuzes. After Bofors withdrew from the venture in 1988, AOS became a wholly owned subsidiary of CIS.
By 1982, SAE expanded into the commercial sector, including establishing the SAE Inspection Centre to provide vehicle servicing for military and civilian clients. In 1983, the company established Singapore Commuter, a taxi service operator. Singapore Commuter was later merged with Singapore Airport Services Ltd (SABS Taxi Ltd) and Singapore Bus Service Taxi Pte Ltd (SBS Taxi Pte Ltd) in April 1995 to form ComfortDelGro.
In the defence sector, ST Auto had fulfilled various contracts for several military vehicle upgrades, including the AMX-13-SM1 Light Tanks in both Singapore and overseas, and refurbishments the M113 Armoured Personnel Carrier in 1993 for the Singapore Armed Forces.
Singapore Automotive Engineering make its initial public offering on the Singapore Stock Exchange on 27 August 1991, offering 30 million shares at an issue price of Singapore dollar1.20. In 1992, it obtained exclusive rights to distribute German Opel cars in partnership with American car maker General Motors.
On 29 December 1994, Singapore Automotive Engineering was renamed Singapore Technologies Automotive Ltd (or ST Automotive, or ST Auto), along with announced name changes of the other three main subsidiaries under the Singapore Technologies Group. as part of a group-wide rebranding following the transfer of the parent group, Singapore Technologies Group, to Temasek Holdings earlier that year.
In end-1995, STA Detroit Diesel-Allison was formed to take on the maintenance of the Detroit diesel engines and Allison transmission used in the Bionix as well as to distribute the Detroit Diesel parts in the Asian region.
SEEL continued to provide maintenance services for the Royal Navy Fleet and, subsequently, for United States military forces deployed in Vietnam, as well as the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF). To adapt to the reduced demand following the Royal Navy's departure and the slow uptake of US Navy contracts, SEEL established an aviation electronics service wing alongside its general engineering operations. This expanded its client base to include private, charter, and military operators.. Despite this expansion, SEEL struggled to generate significant profits during its early years.
By 1974, financial difficulties led to staff retrenchments and the sale of some assets. In an effort to remain viable, SEEL briefly diversified into the distribution and maintenance of commercial electronic products, laying the groundwork for its future system integration capabilities. A Systems Division was subsequently established within the Engineering Department, along with an Aircraft Electrical Overhaul Shop at Seletar Air Base.
By 1977, SEEL had returned to profitability. SEEL was placed under the Singapore Aircraft Industries (SAI) in 1980 prior to its listing in July 1991, for its involvement aviation-related businesses.
SEEL ventured into commercial ventures beginning from the 1970s. In September 1978, SEEL won the contract to do the Building Automation System for Changi Airport with ITT Regelungstechnik, a West German subsidiary of US company ITT. In 1982, it secured the contract through a Singapore-German joint venture Systems Union Pte Ltd, to supply new control and automation systems for the second 3.35 km runway of Changi International Airport. It went on to secure contracts for integrated communication and control systems for local and overseas metro projects, including the Singapore MRT in 1992 and the Taipei Metro in 1993.
In the defence industry, SEEL was awarded contracts by MINDEF for the outsourced operations of the Electronic Supply and Maintenance Base in 1981 and the Central Missile Supply Base in 1983.
SEEL's Aviation Division was integrated with SAMCO's aircraft component repair facility in August 1982 to form Singapore Aero-Components Overhaul (SACO). SEEL would focus on landbased electronics systems while under the parent holding company SAI.
In 1986, a joint venture, Singapore Engineering Software (SES), was established between SEEL and the Swedish company Ericsson Radio Systems AB. The purpose of the venture was to enhance engineering capabilities, particularly in software development for real-time command and control. Over time, it was expected to provide SEEL with access to Ericsson's global market reach.
On 29 December 1994, Singapore Electronic & Engineering Limited was renamed Singapore Technologies Electronics & Engineering Ltd (or ST Electronics & Engineering, or ST E&E), along with announced name changes of the other three main subsidiaries under the Singapore Technologies group.
In its early years, the company faced financial difficulties. Although the RSN had ordered several logistics vessels, funding priorities shifted towards the expansion of the Singapore Air Defence Command, and the RSN had no further significant work for SSE. This led to a decline in business, compounded by ongoing management-labor issues. By 1978, SSE experienced a significant setback after underbidding a contract for a series of 10 cargo container vessels for a consortium of European owners. As a result, the company faced the possibility of loan defaults.
To avert collapse, Sheng-Li Group, a company within the same corporate group, injected fresh capital into SSE. During this period, key personnel from the RSN, joined SSE to lead the company through its turnaround. The company recovered within a year following restructuring.
Following the restructuring, SSE began to focus more aggressively on the commercial market, offering vessel designs for commercial clients. The company invested in building a skilled team of engineers and introduced a variable bonus scheme. By 1981, SSE secured a major contract to build three 120-meter cargo container vessels for Hellenic Lines, a Greek shipping company. The vessels were delivered ahead of schedule.
SSE was the first shipyard in Asia to acquire a CAD/CAM system. In the latter half of the 1980s, the company continued to innovate, producing advanced vessels such as the Tiger 40 Hovercraft.
In 1991, SSE achieved global recognition by earning the ISO 9001 Certification from Lloyd's Register Quality Assurance (UK) Ltd (LRQA), as the first shipyard outside Western Europe to do so.
While the shipyard initially focused on naval and paramilitary craft for both Singapore and international clients, it also expanded into the civilian sector. By 1996, 45% of SSE's revenue came from military contracts, with the remainder derived from commercial projects. These included the conversion of seismic vessels, the refurbishment of luxury yachts, the design and installation of firefighting systems on supply ships, and the repair of chemical tankers and dredges.
On 29 December 1994, Singapore Shipbuilding and Engineering was renamed Singapore Technologies Shipbuilding and Engineering Ltd (or ST Shipbuilding), along with announced name changes of the other three main subsidiaries under the Singapore Technologies group.
A joint venture, Singapore Aero-Engine Overhaul Limited (SAEOL), was also formed with the Singapore Airlines in 1977 through Sheng-Li Holdings, to overhaul aircraft engines of SIA and the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF). This built on the capabilities of The Singapore Airlines Engine Overhaul Base, which was launched in 1974 to provide engine maintenance services for the flag carrier's airliner fleet. In 1977, SAMAERO Co Pte Ltd was formed as a joint venture between Societe Nationale Industrielle Aerospatiale (SNIAS) of France and SAMCO. SAMAERO's job was to sell spare parts and tools for helicopters as well as support SNIAS products and the distribution of the Super Puma and Ecurueil helicopters. SAMAERO was renamed Eurocopter South East Asia (ESEA) in 2000.
In 1980, Singapore Aerospace Industries (SAI), a holding company, was formed to assume the role of a holding company for aerospace-related subsidiaries of Sheng-Li Holdings.This included Singapore Aero-Components Overhaul (SACO), SAMCO, SAMAERO and Singapore Aero Engine Overhaul Limited (SAEOL). Due to its existing aviation-linked operations, Singapore Electronic & Engineering Limited was placed as a subsidiary under Singapore Aircraft Industries (SAI). In mid-1982, to rationalise the defence industries, SEEL's Aviation Division was integrated with SAMCO's aircraft component repair business into a new company, Singapore Aero-Components Overhaul (SACO) under SAI. In 1985, Singapore Airlines sold its holdings, bringing SAEOL fully owned by SAI.
Singapore Aerospace Industries was listed as Singapore Aerospace in 1990. It went commercial the same year with the formation of ST Aviation Services Company (SASCO) as a local commercial aircraft maintenance subsidiary with commercial air frame manufacturing, repair and overhaul facilities in collaboration with Singapore Airlines and Japan Airlines.Boey, Dylan. From bullet maker to defence tech giant. AsiaOne. 30 December 2007.Lee Xin En. Tanks for the memories: ST Engineering turns 50. The Straits Times. 27 January 2017. SASCO ventured overseas to set up ST Mobile Aerospace Engineering in Alabama, USA, which carried out heavy maintenance work and converted passenger planes into freighters. In the 1990s, ST Aero derived most of its revenue from commercial aircraft contracts. A weakened US dollar and a world-wide glut in aircraft maintenance facilities hit the aerospace arm. In the first half of 1995, SASCO reported a loss of at least $17 million. In 1996, SASCO's commercial sector increased turnover by 24%, while its military sector managed a marginal growth of 2%. Singapore Aerospace attained GMP Part 1 certification in 1991.
On 29 December 1994, Singapore Aerospace was renamed Singapore Technologies Aerospace Ltd (or ST Aerospace), along with announced name changes of the other three main subsidiaries under the Singapore Technologies group. The main subsidiaries would later be renamed ST Aerospace Systems (STA Systems), ST Aerospace Engineering (STA Engineering), ST Aerospace Engines (STA Engines) and ST Aerospace Supplies (STA Supplies).
| + !Former Listed Entity !No. of replacement ST Engineering shares (per 1,000 existing shares of former listed entity) | |
| ST Aerospace Ltd | 4,505 |
| ST Automotive Ltd | 5,137 |
| ST Shipbuilding & Engineering Ltd | 2,863 |
| ST Electronics & Engineering Ltd | 2,568 |
In October 2004, ST Engineering's assets were transferred under Temasek Holdings, along with all companies under the parent holding company Singapore Technologies Pte Ltd, as part of a major restructuring exercise that saw the dissolution of Singapore Technologies Group. The move would bring about S$20 million of cost savings to Temasek Holdings, by lower the cost of debt, and provide direct visibility over the listed companies previously held by Singapore Technologies Pte Ltd as an intermediate holding company. The restructuring of STPL was declared completed on 31 December 2024, with all shareholdings in the listed and unlisted companies and other assets previously held by STPL fully transferred to Temasek Holdings.
ST Engineering has since expanded its operations in aerospace, defence, and engineering, serving both commercial and military clients across multiple industries. Nikkei Asian Review: Singapore Technologies Engineering Ltd.. The Nikkei. Independent rankings in 2007 placed the company among the largest public aerospace and defence companies globally.
Throughout the mid-2000s, the land systems sector of the group, under ST Kinetics, expanded its international footprint through acquisitions in the commercial vehicle and specialty equipment sectors across the US, China, and Canada. In 2012, ST Kinetics was reorganized into dedicated Defence and Commercial business groups to better manage its diversifying portfolio. During this period, ST Kinetics faced a significant regulatory challenge when it was one of several firms debarred by India’s Ministry of Defence, a move the company formally contested in the High Court of Delhi. By 2013, the group continued its emerging market expansion, establishing new subsidiaries and distribution networks in Brazil, Myanmar, and Africa.
On 1 January 2021, ST Engineering was reorganised into Commercial, and Defence & Public Security clusters, replacing the previous sector-based structure of Aerospace, Electronics, Land Systems, and Marine. The Commercial cluster would focus on commercial businesses such as Commercial Aerospace, Urban Solutions and Satellite Communications, while the Defence & Public Security cluster would focus on defence businesses such as Digital Systems and Cyber, Land Systems, Marine and defence Aerospace. As a result, the Group's financial reporting was realigned to reflect these new operating segments, with the changes incorporated into its financial results for the first half of the year, ending 30 June 2021.
In 2005, the group's land systems arm (then ST Kinetics) acquired the US-based Specialized Vehicles Corporation, which included the Hackney and Kidron brands. Following a group-wide brand harmonisation in 2018 and a 2021 corporate reorganisation, these operations were integrated into the Urban Solutions cluster. Currently operating as ST Engineering Hackney, Inc. and ST Engineering Kidron, the units manufacture specialised side-loader truck bodies for the beverage and emergency rescue sectors, as well as multi-temperature refrigerated containers for cold chain and food service logistics.
By late 2025, the group had completed several significant divestments and liquidations, including the sale of its US-based construction unit Fayat Group for US$290 million and its interest in the enterprise connectivity provider SPTel, liquidation of Myammar-based Kinetics Automotive & Specialty Equipment Co., Ltd (KASE). These moves streamlined the group into three primary business clusters: Commercial Aerospace, Urban Solutions, and Defence & Public Security, all underpinned by a group-wide digital and cybersecurity core.
Through a long-standing joint venture with Airbus, Elbe Flugzeugwerke GmbH, ST Engineering is the sole provider of passenger-to-freighter (P2F) conversions for the A320, A321, and A330 airframes. Additionally, ST Engineering Aerospace operates an extensive engine MRO network across Asia-Pacific, Europe and the United States, specialising in support for CFM engines such as the CFM56 and LEAP, while managing a global portfolio of aviation assets and leasing through its investment management arm.
ST Engineering remains a major provider of specialized side-loader truck bodies for the beverage and emergency rescue industries, as well as multi-temperature refrigerated truck bodies in North America, under the Hackney and Kidron brands. It is also a major investor in Skyports, which provide drone services for Singapore's Public Utilities Board.
The land systems domain managed under the ST Engineering Land Systems entity provides comprehensive life-cycle support through MRO services, alongside the modernisation of legacy platforms. The group specialises in Service Life Extension Programmes (SLEP), where older assets—such as the M113 Armoured Personnel Carrier—are upgraded with modern powerpacks and digitised systems. The group also design and manufacture of proprietary digitised combat platforms such as the Terrex ICV infantry carrier vehicle and the Hunter AFV armoured fighting vehicle, with the latter utilising the HMX3000 Infinitely Variable Transmissions (IVT) produced by its Canada subsidiary, Kinetics Drive Solutions.
In the air domain, the group provides integrated MRO and upgrade solutions for a wide range of military aircraft, including supersonic fighters, transport aircraft, and helicopters. As a Lockheed Martin-authorised service centre, it is a global "Centre of Excellence" for the C-130 Hercules, having redelivered over 650 units to international air forces with upgrades such as full glass cockpits and structural life extensions. The group also performs deep-level maintenance and avionics modernisation for the Republic of Singapore Air Force’s F-16 Falcon and F-15SG Eagle fleets. Through its US-based subsidiary MRAS, the company manufactures complex aerostructures and components for global military platforms including the C-5 Galaxy, P-8 Poseidon, and the V-22 Osprey.
In the naval domain, the company provides turnkey design and construction services for vessels ranging from Stealth ship to large-scale landing platform docks (LPDs). In October 2025, the group launched the first of six Victory-class Multi-Role Combat Vessels (MRCV) for the Republic of Singapore Navy, designed as a "mothership" to coordinate unmanned systems. Beyond shipbuilding, the group is a major integrated MRO provider for Naval fleet, specialising in the refitting and mid-life upgrades (MLU) of complex surface combatants and Submarine, such as the 2023 contract for the Formidable-class multi-role Stealth ship.
The cluster's unmanned capabilities are unified through the DroNet and VELOCE platforms for aerial surveillance and logistics, as well as uncrewed surface vessels (USVs) for maritime mine countermeasures.
ST Engineering maintains a public policy against the design, production, or sale of anti-personnel mines, cluster munitions, and white phosphorus munitions.
The scandal resulted in the prosecution of several high-ranking former executives:
In response to the scandal, ST Engineering stated that it has "zero tolerance" for fraud and corruption. The group has since implemented a more robust Code of Business Conduct and Ethics, established a dedicated Ethics Committee chaired by the Group CEO, and launched an anonymous whistleblowing platform to prevent future occurrences of corporate malpractice.
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