Taiwan is building a drone army to defend against a potential invasion by China, with the island’s government investing heavily in developing a homegrown drone industry. The drones, ranging from sea craft to single-use suicide weapons and high-altitude intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) vehicles, are a key element of Taipei’s “porcupine strategy” to make an invasion too costly for Beijing to consider.
The war in Ukraine has reinforced the belief in Taipei that unmanned vehicles could be decisive in fending off a much bigger military foe. Kyiv has made extensive use of drone warfare to hold its own against Moscow, and Taiwan is taking note. “It doesn’t mean that we need to build one drone for their one drone,” Chen Kuan-ting, a lawmaker from the ruling Democratic Progressive Party, said. Instead, Chen emphasized the importance of “disruptive innovations” that can give Taiwan an edge.
Taiwan has set a target for local industry to produce 15,000 dual-use drones a month by 2028, while the Defence Ministry has ordered 700 military-grade unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and 3,422 dual-use drones from local manufacturers. However, experts say that these targets are modest compared to the scale of the threat. During the opening volleys of a conflict with China, Taipei and Beijing would be expected to “churn through thousands of UAVs on a daily, if not hourly, basis,” according to a report by the US Naval Institute.
Despite the progress made, Taiwan’s drone industry faces several challenges, including supply chain bottlenecks and financial risks. Some would-be drone makers fear being sanctioned by China, which could impact their business. Additionally, Taiwan relies on China for many of the raw materials and parts needed to produce UAV batteries, GPS modules, and other critical components.
Experts emphasize the importance of adapting to the changing battlefield and investing in research and development. “Taiwan needs to be prepared to pivot and adapt as it builds its arsenal, including by paying attention to developments in Russia and Ukraine,” said Peter Mattis, president of the US-based Jamestown Foundation. Lorenz Meier, the founder and CEO of the drone software company Auterion, added that Taipei’s drone strategy should take advantage of Taiwan’s unique geography, including its mountains and jungles.
Taiwan’s drone army is a crucial component of its defence strategy against a potential invasion by China. While the island has made progress in developing its drone industry, it still faces significant challenges and concerns. Experts emphasize the importance of adapting to the changing battlefield, investing in research and development, and leveraging Taiwan’s unique geography to its advantage.