TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Taiwan is integrating US software and technology with its shipbuilding capabilities to make sea drones, Nikkei Asia reported.
The large-scale effort aims to strengthen the ability to deter invasion or blockade by China’s naval and coast guard forces. In the past few years, US firms including Saronic Technologies, Anduril, and Maritime Tactical Systems have all partnered with Taiwanese companies.
Cathy Fang (方怡然), an analyst at Taiwan's Research Institute for Democracy, Society and Emerging Technology, said, "US cooperation is concentrated in autonomy, AI-enabled C2 (command and control), sensor and payload integration, multi-platform coordination, and underwater technologies, complementing Taiwan's existing strengths in shipbuilding and manufacturing," per Nikkei Asia.
Taiwan announced plans to procure 25 unmanned surface vessels and two underwater drones in July to counter China’s operations in its waters, according to Nikkei Asia. Earlier this month, Taiwan Shipbuilding Corp. teamed up with US defense tech startup Havoc to develop USVs, combining its shipbuilding expertise with the startup’s autonomy technology.
Fang identified several challenges in Taiwan’s efforts to build a large sea drone fleet, saying, "The key gaps are resilient communications, AI-enabled autonomy and C2, and multi-vessel coordination, particularly under the demanding sea states and operating conditions around Taiwan."
She added that limited demand and opportunities to test operational capabilities are two major issues, Nikkei Asia reported. While aerial drone exports to Europe have increased, "Taiwan has had fewer confirmed domestic USV or UUV orders and only limited overseas orders," she said. Expanding navy drone boat production and use could solve those problems.
