Based on information revealed by a military source, Taiwan is reportedly seeking to acquire new attack drones to equip its Armed Forces in order to strengthen and expand the capabilities of its unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) fleet. According to the statement, there is official interest in acquiring four specific types of drones, which should have one or more of the following characteristics: carrying out short-range attacks, transporting loitering munitions, taking off and landing vertically, carrying missile-like munitions, and being low-cost.
Taking into account China’s expanding military capabilities, such as the increased operational deployment of assets around the island and the Taiwan Strait, the Taiwanese Armed Forces have found it necessary to strengthen their asymmetric capabilities in the field of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). However, analysts explain that this acquisition is also aimed at countering China’s strategy of expanding operations in so-called “gray zones” of the Taiwan Strait, seeking to weaken and degrade a potential adversary’s capabilities over a prolonged period.
In this context, the official stated that the drones selected for this new procurement project would be capable of executing more direct short-range attacks autonomously, similar to loitering munitions (commonly referred to as “kamikaze drones“), which can carry out strikes after identifying their target.
It should not be overlooked that as early as the 2024 budget, Taiwan had proposed acquiring drones, considering the possible incorporation of a significant number of privately and commercially developed unmanned aerial systems for its Armed Forces. At that time, the plan included the acquisition of approximately 3,221 unmanned systems of five types based on commercial designs from private companies. This group included microdrones for target designation, surveillance drones to be deployed from ships, and surveillance and reconnaissance drones for all branches of Taiwan’s Armed Forces.
As the months passed, the island showed signs of progress in this direction. So much so that in March 2024, the U.S. Department of Defense awarded a contract to General Atomics for the supply of MQ-9B SkyGuardian drones to Taiwan, complementing contracts awarded for the same model in 2022 and 2023. Additionally, in June 2024, the U.S. government approved a possible sale of a batch of ALTITUS-600 loitering munitions for the Taiwanese Army, following its request to purchase up to 291 units equipped with electro-optical and infrared cameras. However, there has been no news yet confirming this acquisition.
Moreover, during the same month, the State Department also authorized a potential sale of 720 Switchblade 300 anti-personnel and anti-armor loitering munitions, although local media reported that the actual purchase was for a total of 685 units.
At the same time, the Chungshan Institute of Science and Technology (NCSIST) has been tasked with manufacturing Teng Yun drones, which have already begun flight testing, as well as Chien Hsiang loitering munitions. The institute is producing 200 second-generation Chien Hsiang units, designed to operate in missions over the Taiwan Strait. Additionally, private companies have been contracted to develop commercial drones adapted for military use.
Finally, Taiwan is developing an unmanned naval platform program under Project Kuachi. This initiative was launched to counter China’s military expansion and its ongoing hostile activities in gray zones. The unit is capable of carrying explosives and being remotely controlled. If the tests, which begin in June, are successful, mass production is expected to be approved in 2026.
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