TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Thunder Tiger Chair Chen Guan-ru (陳冠如) said the company is targeting mass production of its new military kamikaze drone, Papa Delta, which is under development and is designed to support a low-cost combat operations model.
At a Monday forum, Chen said modern warfare is shifting away from reliance on expensive missiles toward large-scale attacks using low-cost drones. He noted that Ukraine produces about four million drones annually in its war against Russia, underscoring the growing role of UAVs as expendable munitions, per CNA.
Chen said Taiwan has the potential to produce low-cost drones at scale. He urged local UAV manufacturers to use industrial and automated manufacturing capabilities to achieve this goal.
Papa Delta will be produced domestically, giving it a cost advantage, Chen said. The drone’s airframe will incorporate aluminum alloy stamping technology acquired through the company’s 2024 acquisition of Morningstar Boats.
Chen added that the aluminum alloy technology will also be applied to its unmanned vessel production. He said the company has developed the SeaShark series USVs, which feature coordinated operational capabilities and can be used for defense and strike missions.
Papa Delta will feature a modular design, enabling deployment on unmanned surface vessels and other unmanned platforms. The drone is aimed at military markets in democratically allied partners.
Chen noted the drone is primarily used for strike missions, where demand is expected to be high and extreme performance is not required. He added that the company will focus on using automation to speed up production and secure more orders.
Chen also highlighted the importance of integrating AI technology into drone production. The AI-powered system will use onboard cameras to help drones identify targets for strikes and help UAVs avoid obstacles during flight.
In March, Chen, who also serves as co-chair of the Taiwan Excellence Drone International Business Opportunities Alliance, signed a cooperation agreement with the Texas A&M Transportation Institute on pilot training and drone flight testing.
In September 2025, the US Department of Defense added Thunder Tiger’s first-person view drone Overkill to its Blue UAS Cleared List, marking the first time a Taiwanese drone maker has received the cybersecurity and military-grade certification. The listing indicates the UAV has been vetted for security and performance, allowing US government agencies to procure it without further approvals.
