Taiwan’s Executive Yuan (EY) has proposed NT$55.9 billion for coastal surveillance and attack drones and small one-way attack unmanned surface vessels (USVs), a budget request awaiting legislative review as it seeks to build production capacity.
The EY’s initial capability goals for 2027 include more than 600 coastal surveillance drones, more than 40,000 coastal attack drones and more than 100 small USVs. The proposal covers all three types of systems.
A separate law passed by the Legislative Yuan on Aug. 27 and promulgated Sept. 11 provides for NT$240 billion over six years. It uses NT$40 billion a year as the funding benchmark, allows for higher amounts if needed and routes the money through central-government annual budgets. The law does not itself create a single procurement contract.
The Ministry of National Defense (MND) handles military purchases, while the Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA) is the law’s general competent authority. The measure aims to strengthen defense autonomy and trusted supply chains, and calls for civilian information and communications technology and precision machinery capabilities to support the industry. It also calls for assessments of domestic output, technology jobs and commercial applications.
The enacted law is separate from an earlier Cabinet proposal for a NT$210 billion special act. The MND said that draft did not pass.
The Ocean Affairs Council (OAC) said Taiwanese, U.S. and Singaporean companies demonstrated maritime systems in Tainan on Nov. 2, including remote control, autonomous route planning, coordinated vessel operations and underwater sonar sensing. The three-day MATURE Taiwan exhibition opened Tuesday, Nov. 3.
Maritime Tactical Systems, Inc. (MARTAC) said the Taiwan Coast Guard Administration (CGA) is acquiring an undisclosed number of its Devil Ray T24 unmanned surface vessels. The company said production will be divided between a partner site in Edgewater, Florida, and Taiwanese firm Confucian Co., Ltd. Confucian Chief Executive James Lee said MARTAC’s commitment to making vessels with a Taiwanese partner contributed to its selection.
The Legislative Yuan is scheduled to review the supplementary budget Wednesday and Thursday, Nov. 4-5.
