TAIPEI (Taiwan News) – The Ministry of National Defense said on Wednesday that the country is ramping up drone production to create a hellscape deterrence network, the New York Times reported.
The strategy would use waves of drones to locate and attack approaching enemy forces, while troops maneuver between positions. US military command uses the term hellscape to describe a battlefield saturated with drones, missiles, and artillery targeting an invading force.
Department of Strategic Planning Director-General Lieutenant General Huang Wen-chi (黃文啟) said Taiwan’s efforts have accelerated after studying the war in Ukraine, where drones have been used for reconnaissance and attacking high-value targets. He noted that domestic drone and counter-drone efforts have made progress over the past two years.
Recent examples of drone surveillance include a July exercise on the east coast, where soldiers deployed aerial drones to locate and identify enemy assault units. On Saturday, President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) watched troops in southern Taiwan test two prototype attack drones.
The Cabinet aims to transform Taiwan into a major drone manufacturing hub, producing 100,000 drones a month by 2030. It has also proposed a NT$210 billion (US$6.6 billion) special budget over five years to acquire 1,446 coastal surveillance drones, 208,000 coastal attack drones, and 1,320 small unmanned attack boats, per UDN.
The political parties support expanding drone production but disagree over expenditure and the procurement process. The DPP's proposal has been challenged by the KMT and TPP, which have their own proposal.
Taiwan's Thunder Tiger and US-based Shield AI tested two unmanned surface vessels in July to scout for enemy ships. Thunder Tiger Chair Chen Kuan-ju (陳冠如) urges that the government reach consensus so that production and partnerships may continue.
The Ministry of Economic Affairs said that 267 Taiwanese companies cover all aspects of drone production, from operating systems to key components, per the Economic Daily News. Taiwan aims to become a trusted supplier in a China-free supply chain, free of logistical disruptions and cybersecurity concerns.
Separately, Taiwan's drone exports for the first quarter of 2026 totaled US$115 million, exceeding the combined total for 2025. Major buyers include the Czech Republic, Poland, and the US, according to a report from the economics ministry.
