TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The Army said on Thursday that its Altius-600M loitering munitions have been incorporated into its arsenal and that maintenance and training have been progressing smoothly.
The Army denied reports claiming the drones’ performance was “below expectations” and urged the media not to speculate about equipment performance based on unverified data, CNA reported.
Taiwan received the first batch of Altius-600Ms from US defense firm Anduril Industries in August. The Altius-600M is a loitering munition capable of launching from land, sea, or air platforms.
It has a range of 440 kilometers and can remain airborne for up to four hours. The drone supports missions including surveillance, reconnaissance, communications relay, and signal jamming. It can also be equipped with a warhead to strike armored vehicles.
In December, the Army held its first drills for the Altius-600M loitering munition. The Unmanned Aircraft System Training Center and several artillery command units carried out the exercise, which assessed unit operating procedures and overall command-and-control effectiveness.
Defense Minister Wellington Koo (顧立雄) said in November that the delivery of Altius drones represents a significant step forward in developing unmanned combat capabilities. He said the system’s capabilities will be confirmed during combined training and exercises.
The defense ministry will continue acquiring various types of drones in accordance with emerging threats and defense needs, while developing training standards and operational doctrines.
