The Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) will enforce a new regulation from 1 December 2025, requiring all unmanned aircraft (UA) over 250 grams to be equipped with Broadcast Remote Identification (B-RID) technology. This mandate excludes drones operated indoors or in enclosed environments and those with an Operator Permit using the FlyItSafe app. The B-RID system, described as a “digital licence plate,” uses Wi-Fi and Bluetooth to transmit data such as the drone’s position and operator details.
Announced in November 2024, the regulation provided over a year for compliance. CAAS offered to cover the cost of B-RID modules and installation for applications submitted between 1 January and 31 March 2025. As of 15 October 2025, 17,300 drones were registered without in-built B-RID, and CAAS has distributed 6,300 free modules. Some operators have installed their own modules, whilst others may choose not to fly unequipped drones.
CAAS emphasises the importance of this requirement due to the risks posed by unlawful drone operations to public safety and security. Non-compliance or broadcasting false identification information could result in fines up to $10,000, imprisonment for up to six months, or both. Tan Kah Han, Senior Director of the Unmanned Systems Group at CAAS, stated, “The new requirement will be crucial in light of the current security landscape around the world where unlawful use of drones can pose a serious threat to aviation and public safety and security.”
The initiative underscores CAAS’s commitment to maintaining safe skies whilst supporting unmanned aircraft operations.
