Taiwan ready to test kamikaze sea drone designed to ‘support coastal assault operations'
Taiwan is planning to test a home-made kamikaze sea drone later this month as it seeks to boost its naval defences in the face of growing pressure from mainland China.
The vessel – developed under the code name 'Kuai Chi Project' by the National Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology (NCSIST), Taiwan's top weapons developer – will undergo combat capability evaluations later this month before further tests later this year, a military source said on Monday.
'If all goes according to plan, the boat will proceed to live combat testing during a precision missile drill in southern Taiwan this August,' the source said, speaking on condition of anonymity.
The island's defence ministry has allocated more than NT$800 million (US$25 million) for the project, commissioning NCSIST to lead development. Lungteh Shipbuilding Company was awarded the contract last year to construct three attack uncrewed surface vessels (USVs) and one target boat.
NCSIST aims to complete all required testing by the end of this year, with mass production expected to begin in 2026. 'Under the current plan, the army intends to acquire more than 200 of these vessels to support coastal assault operations,' the source said.
Procurement documents show that the attack vessel will measure under 10 metres (32.8ft) in length, displace less than four tonnes when fully loaded, and have a draft of less than 0.5 metres. The target work boat will be under 17 metres in length, with a displacement of 19 to 20 tonnes and a draft of less than 0.75 metres.
Each attack vessel will be equipped with an AI-enabled targeting and guidance system, capable of autonomously locking onto and striking enemy ships after target assignment. 'Range, precision, mobility, unmanned capability, and AI integration are the core elements of Taiwan's asymmetric defense strategy – and building 200 units is just the beginning,' the source added.
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