TAIPEI (Taiwan News) – Testing of uncrewed surface vessels (USVs) by one of Taiwan’s top weapons manufacturers should be completed by the end of next year, allowing for production to start in 2026, reports said Saturday (April 27).

The plan by the National Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology (NCSIST) is a reaction to Chinese navy vessels coming close to Taiwan. The use of explosive USVs by Ukraine against Russian navy ships in the Black Sea was also a reference point for Taiwan, the Liberty Times reported.

The NCSIST project took just three months to set up, instead of the eight months minimum usually required. This showed the government and military saw the tele-guided speedboats as a priority.  

The project to develop the USVs in two sizes, each with a different explosive load, was budgeted at NT$812 million (US$24.9 million). The distance the ships can be remote-controlled will be upgraded to 70 kilometers from the present 60 km.

Both the Army and the Navy are interested in the project, with the latter hoping to be able to launch the USVs from its ships, the report said.