TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Thunder Tiger said it will compete in the US military’s Drone Dominance Program, positioning its strengthened cybersecurity and use of China-free components as key advantages in its push to expand defense exports, CNA reported.
The Drone Dominance Program is a new initiative to procure more than 200,000 drones by 2027, including 30,000 unmanned aerial systems scheduled for delivery by July 2026. The effort aims to equip the military with a reliable arsenal of low-cost and effective small UAVs.
The program is a four-phase, nearly NT$34.5 billion (US$1.1 billion) initiative funded by the Big Beautiful Bill. Each phase features a demonstration in which military operators evaluate vendor-supplied drones in mission scenarios. Phase one is set to begin Feb. 16 and will narrow the field to 25 qualified suppliers for UAV mission testing.
In September, the company’s Overkill first-person-view drone was added to the US Department of Defense’s Blue UAS Cleared List. This certification — the first for a Taiwanese drone maker — validates the drone’s cybersecurity and supply chain integrity, allowing US military and government agencies to purchase it without additional approval.
The company said the list is the program’s primary source for procurement. As of November, the list includes more than 39 certified drone systems and 165 components that meet National Defense Authorization Act requirements for users in US government agencies.
Thunder Tiger noted that it has established a military-grade UAV production line in Taiwan with a monthly output exceeding 1,000 units. The company also plans to open a manufacturing facility in Ohio in the first quarter of next year to support programs tied to the US Army procurement.
Company General Manager Gene Su (蘇聖傑) said that most of its communication, battery, and flight control modules, along with its motors and engine power units, are manufactured in Taiwan. Its aerospace-grade motors are produced in the US, while its camera modules are made locally or developed in collaboration with international suppliers.
Su added the company produces up to 500 unmanned surface vessels annually. Its SeaShark 800 USV is equipped with a US-made engine, can reach speeds of more than 90 kilometers per hour, and is capable of manned and unmanned operation. The vessel’s communication system is produced in the UK and offers a range of more than 60 km.
