Recently, the company Anduril Industries confirmed the delivery of the first batch of new ALTIUS-600 loitering munitions to Taiwan’s Armed Forces—an operation previously authorized and approved by the United States in June 2024. The arrival of these unmanned systems, popularly known as “kamikaze drones,” marks a new milestone in Taipei’s efforts to strengthen its military’s asymmetric warfare capabilities in response to the growing deployment of forces and capabilities by China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA) around the island.
The first loitering systems were produced under an advanced manufacturing scheme, prior to the formal signing of the contract, which allowed deliveries to begin just six months after approval. This approach aimed to speed up and streamline delivery timelines in a context where Taiwan faces a backlog of over USD 20 billion in requested U.S. arms—some of which have been delayed by more than three years.
It is worth recalling that Taiwan’s intention to acquire the ALTIUS-600 was formalized on June 18, 2024, when the Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) announced the U.S. State Department’s approval of a sale valued at USD 300 million. Specifically, the Taiwanese government requested the purchase of 291 ALTIUS-600 loitering munitions equipped with electro-optical and infrared cameras, as well as an unspecified number of training units for operators, pneumatic launch platforms, and control systems. This also includes the necessary logistical support for integrating the new systems, such as spare parts, user manuals, training courses, and evaluation of the bases where they will be deployed, among other elements.
Among the notable features of the ALTIUS-600 loitering munitions is their ability to be launched from a wide variety of platforms—both aerial and ground-based—such as AC-130J aircraft, UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters, and even Valkyrie XQ-58 drones. According to the manufacturer, the system has considerable endurance, with a flight time exceeding 4 hours, an estimated range of 450 kilometers, and the capacity to carry explosive warheads of up to 27 pounds (around 12 kilograms).
It is also important to note that this type of munition can be deployed in swarm format—something the U.S. Army has already tested, where a single operator managed to simulate attacks on seven different targets using the same number of ALTIUS-600 systems controlled simultaneously.
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