TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — US defense company AeroVironment said it supports Taiwan’s T-Dome air defense concept as it deepens cooperation with local partners to develop drone control systems, Nikkei Asia reported Monday.
The company signed a memorandum of understanding last week with Taipei-based Ubiqconn Technology to collaborate on unmanned systems and mission software for Taiwan’s defense modernization efforts.
AeroVironment CEO Wahid Nawabi said the partnership will integrate the company’s Kinesis mission management software with Ubiqconn’s rugged controller platforms to enable unified control of multiple drone systems. He said the goal is to allow operators to manage drones and loitering munitions through a single interface.
Nawabi said the collaboration supports Taiwan’s broader T-Dome initiative, a multilayered defense concept aimed at countering missiles, drones, and aircraft. It also builds on the company’s experience with similar systems in the US.
He added that the technologies being deployed are already in use in US defense programs, including systems linked to Golden Dome, and are now being adapted for Taiwan’s security needs.
Despite recent cuts to Taiwan’s domestic drone production budget, Nawabi said demand and industrial momentum remain strong, driven by Taiwan’s efforts to diversify supply chains and expand exports to Europe and other markets.
He also said future warfare will rely on robotics and AI-driven systems, creating opportunities for Taiwan’s defense and drone industries to develop technologies with global partners.
