Private Sector Tapped For Military Drone Production

President Tsai Ing-wen has unveiled a plan to invest in private sector drone manufacturers in Taiwan to produce new capabilities for the military, reports the Financial Times (U.K.).

The proposal calls for US$1.6 billion over three years to assemble a “national team” of drone makers to develop uncrewed aircraft systems for specific missions for a potential conflict with China.

Taiwan has several companies that produce commercial and civilian drones, but to date the government has not previously used them over concerns that they could leak military secrets to Beijing.

The government hopes to begin placing orders with commercial drone makers in July 2023, said unnamed sources familiar with the plan.

The Taiwanese military has several domestic drone systems in service, developed by the government’s National Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology, including the Albatross medium reconnaissance UAV and the Chien Hsiang loitering munition.

In September, Taipei ordered four MQ-9B SeaGuardian maritime patrol drones from General Atomics in the U.S. for US$555 million.