TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — A bipartisan delegation from the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee on Monday visited the National Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology, where they were shown results from a live-fire test of a drone-mounted warhead.
In the morning, the group met President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) at the Presidential Office before touring NCSIST in Taoyuan, Taiwan’s hub for indigenous weapons development, per CNA. The institute showcased drones and equipment previously displayed at the Taipei Aerospace & Defense Technology Exhibition, including the Mighty Hornet II and III, Albatross II, a 10-inch laser-designated EO/IR payload, PSD-250 turbojet engine, and Dive-LD autonomous underwater vehicle.
The visit marked the first public display of a multi-purpose UAV warhead prototype. The 12-kilogram version can be mounted on the Mighty Hornet IV drone, co-produced by NCSIST and US defense contractor Kratos.
Demonstration panels showed that the warhead had penetrated a 50-mm high-strength steel plate during a live-fire test. NCSIST Director of the Chemical Systems Research Division, Shih Chia-nan (施佳男), added that the warhead uses an open interface, enabling use on civilian drones.
According to NCSIST data, the multi-purpose UAV warhead is available for both Mighty Hornet III and IV drones. The Mighty Hornet III warhead weighs 2 kilograms, while the Mighty Hornet IV version weighs 12 kilograms.
Both use a dual-effect structure that includes steel-ball fragmentation, enabling them to attack light armored vehicles, drones, helicopters, and personnel. A single warhead can engage multiple target types, giving soldiers flexible combat options.
The Mighty Hornet IV is based on the Kratos MQM-178 target drone, but modified into a low-cost, high-speed attack UAV. It features a human-in-the-loop system, capable of both manual operation and autonomous flight, a modular design, high maneuverability, and the ability to carry external munitions.
The delegation, led by Senator Jeanne Shaheen and Senator John Curtis, arrived at Taipei Songshan Airport on Monday aboard a military aircraft, per CNA. The group also includes Senate Taiwan Caucus co-chair Thom Tillis and Senator Jacky Rosen.
