TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The Coast Guard Administration said Tuesday that it plans to procure a second-generation drone system to expand its coastal operational range and improve rescue capabilities.

The CGA said the drone must be able to operate in winds above Beaufort level 6 and fly for at least two hours, Liberty Times reported. It must also have AI capabilities to identify suspicious vessels. Additional equipment such as warning lights, searchlights, and loudspeakers will be installed to improve nighttime target identification and support maritime interdiction operations, the CGA said.

The drone will also be able to carry and deploy basic life-saving equipment.

The CGA said each unit currently operates Capricorn drones two to four times per month to meet mission needs. The drones have a payload capacity of about 30 kilograms and are equipped with optical cameras that can observe targets 3 to 5 nautical miles away.

Captain Li Ching-chung (李慶忠), commander of the Kaohsiung patrol vessel, said drones are faster and operate at higher altitudes than ships. They can quickly reach an emergency and drop life-saving equipment to assist in rescue operations, Li said.

In cases of smuggling or illegal immigration, drones equipped with infrared and high-magnification optical cameras can quickly scan maritime areas and analyze targets, he added.