TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The Armaments Bureau has tapped domestic drone manufacturers to submit proposals for five types of military drones to be built by 2027.
The bureau aims to have 48,750 drones within two years, according to the Liberty Times. The categories have not yet been assigned names or roles and are currently designated by letters.
Type A is a multi-rotor vertical take-off and landing drone with a control range of over 6 kilometers and capable of carrying payloads over 2.5 kilograms. The military plans to procure 7,500 units in 2026 and 26,500 units in 2027.
Type B is also a multi-rotor drone but with a control range of over 25 km. Its flight and hover time must exceed 60 minutes. The military plans to procure 1,100 units in 2026 and 3,200 units in 2027.
Type C is a fixed-wing drone with a control range of over 90 km and a minimum endurance time of 2 hours. The drone is launched via catapult and must be easy to disassemble. The military plans to procure 970 units in 2026 and 2,980 units in 2027.
Type D is another fixed-wing drone with a control range exceeding 30 km and has a minimum endurance time of 30 minutes. It is also a catapult-launched drone and modular in design. The military plans to procure 1,350 units in 2026 and 4,450 units in 2027.
Type E is a VTOL fixed-wing drone with a control range of over 100 km and a minimum endurance time of 2.5 hours. Its average speed must reach 80 kph, and it must be able to withstand wind speeds of 5 or above on the Beaufort scale. The military plans to procure 350 units in 2026 and another 350 units in 2027.
