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HKFP
2 hours ago
- Business
- HKFP
Taiwan tests sea drones as China's military pressure continues
A Taiwanese-made sea drone capable of carrying bombs skimmed across waters off the island Tuesday in a display of uncrewed surface vehicles that could boost its military firepower against China. With Beijing sustaining military pressure on the island, Taiwan is increasing investment in aerial and maritime drones, which have been widely used in Russia's war in Ukraine to outfox traditional heavy weaponry. China claims Taiwan is part of its territory and has threatened to use force to bring it under its control. Twelve local and foreign companies took part in an Uncrewed Sea Vehicle (USV) demonstration hosted by the government's National Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology (NCSIST) in Yilan, southeast of Taipei. It was an opportunity for 'potential clients such as the military and coast guard' to collect data from the drone manufacturers for future mass production, the institute said in a statement. Taiwanese shipbuilder Lungteh's Black Tide sea drone, which is designed to operate in 'contested environments', was one of three USVs put through its paces. With a top speed of more than 43 knots (80 kilometres per hour; 50 miles per hour), the Black Tide can be used for intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance and 'one-way strike', according to the company. Meanwhile, Carbon-Based Technology Inc's 'stealth' USV could carry bombs and was cheap enough to conduct 'sacrificial' missions, said company director Stacy Yu after the drone was tested. US defence technology company Auterion also signed a deal with Taiwan for its 'battle-tested' operating system and swarming technology to be used in a new generation of military drones. While President Lai Ching-te has pledged to make Taiwan 'the Asian hub' for drone production, there have been challenges to ramping up the island's output. Taiwan's annual production capacity for aerial drones is between 8,000 to 10,000 units, well below its 2028 target of 180,000 units, the Research Institute for Democracy, Society and Emerging Technology (DSET) said in a report on Monday. High manufacturing costs from using non-China components made it 'difficult for Taiwanese products to compete with Chinese-made products in the commercial market', DSET analysts said. And limited domestic orders and a scarcity of foreign government contracts were also impeding 'further scaling' of production, it said.
Yahoo
7 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Taiwan seals Ukraine combat-tested drone software deal to help deter China
(Corrects spelling of family name of official to "Li" not "Lee", paragraph 9) By Ann Wang SUAO, Taiwan (Reuters) -Taiwan sealed a partnership deal on Tuesday with U.S. and German-based Auterion for drone software battle-tested in Ukraine to help strengthen the island's defences against growing military threats from giant neighbour China. Auterion, whose software is used in Ukrainian drones operating combat missions against Russia, said the deal could eventually lead to the technology being used in millions of drones for Taiwan. China views democratically governed Taiwan as its own territory and has ramped up its military pressure over the past five years, including staging half a dozen rounds of war games. Taiwan's government rejects Beijing's sovereignty claims. Since Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022, Taiwan has been studying how Ukraine has deployed drones, both in the air and at sea, to successfully offset Russia's numerical advantage on the battlefield, given China's forces also outnumber Taiwan's. Auterion said it had agreed to a strategic partnership with Taiwan's defence ministry's research and development arm, the National Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology, for uncrewed systems and drone swarming software. "What we're bringing to the table has been combat-proven in Ukraine to deter aggression and destroy tanks, naval assets, and other really expensive equipment. So by building a large autonomous fleet, Taiwan can deter China," Auterion's chief executive Lorenz Meier told Reuters. "The partnership is super long-term. So I think in terms of, if you're trying to put that in number of drones or dollars, we're expecting millions of drones eventually over multiple years and hundreds of millions of dollars in value that's being created," he added, speaking at a ministry-organised sea drone exhibition at the northeastern Taiwanese port of Suao. Pushed by the United States, Taiwan has been working to transform its armed forces to be able to wage "asymmetric warfare", using mobile and often cheaper weapons which still pack a targeted punch, like drones and truck-mounted missiles. Chung-Shan President Li Shih-chiang thanked the five foreign companies who participated at the Suao exhibition. "I believe that you will soon be sanctioned by the Chinese government, but do not fear, because you have chosen the democratic camp," he added. Ukraine has deployed sea drones not only to attack ships in Russia's Black Sea fleet, but also to shoot down aircraft. The unmanned sea drones on display in Suao included not only those that could be packed with explosives for high-speed suicide missions, but smaller craft that can conduct low-profile reconnaissance.
Int'l Business Times
8 hours ago
- Business
- Int'l Business Times
Taiwan Tests Sea Drones As China Keeps Up Military Pressure
A Taiwanese-made sea drone capable of carrying bombs skimmed across waters off the island Tuesday in a display of uncrewed surface vehicles that could boost its military firepower against China. With Beijing sustaining military pressure on the island, Taiwan is increasing investment in aerial and maritime drones, which have been widely used in Russia's war in Ukraine to outfox traditional heavy weaponry. China claims Taiwan is part of its territory and has threatened to use force to bring it under its control. Twelve local and foreign companies took part in an Uncrewed Sea Vehicle (USV) demonstration hosted by the government's National Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology (NCSIST) in Yilan, southeast of Taipei. It was an opportunity for "potential clients such as the military and coast guard" to collect data from the drone manufacturers for future mass production, the institute said in a statement. Taiwanese shipbuilder Lungteh's Black Tide sea drone, which is designed to operate in "contested environments", was one of three USVs put through its paces. With a top speed of more than 43 knots (80 kilometres per hour; 50 miles per hour), the Black Tide can be used for intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance and "one-way strike", according to the company. Meanwhile, Carbon-Based Technology Inc's "stealth" USV could carry bombs and was cheap enough to conduct "sacrificial" missions, said company director Stacy Yu after the drone was tested. US defence technology company Auterion also signed a deal with Taiwan for its "battle-tested" operating system and swarming technology to be used in a new generation of military drones. While President Lai Ching-te has pledged to make Taiwan "the Asian hub" for drone production, there have been challenges to ramping up the island's output. Taiwan's annual production capacity for aerial drones is between 8,000 to 10,000 units, well below its 2028 target of 180,000 units, the Research Institute for Democracy, Society and Emerging Technology (DSET) said in a report on Monday. High manufacturing costs from using non-China components made it "difficult for Taiwanese products to compete with Chinese-made products in the commercial market", DSET analysts said. And limited domestic orders and a scarcity of foreign government contracts were also impeding "further scaling" of production, it said. Taiwan's President Lai Ching-te has pledged to make Taiwan "the Asian hub" for drone production AFP
New Straits Times
9 hours ago
- Business
- New Straits Times
Taiwan showcases uncrewed sea vehicles in face of China tensions
YILAN, Taiwan: A Taiwanese-made sea drone capable of carrying bombs skimmed across waters off the island Tuesday in a display of uncrewed surface vehicles that could boost its military firepower against China. With Beijing sustaining military pressure on the island, Taiwan is increasing investment in aerial and maritime drones, which have been widely used in Russia's war in Ukraine to outfox traditional heavy weaponry. China claims Taiwan is part of its territory and has threatened to use force to bring it under its control. Twelve local and foreign companies took part in an Uncrewed Sea Vehicle (USV) demonstration hosted by the government's National Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology in Yilan, southeast of Taipei. It was an opportunity for "potential clients such as the military and coast guard" to collect data from the drone manufacturers for future mass production, the institute said in a statement. Taiwanese shipbuilder Lungteh's Black Tide sea drone, which is designed to operate in "contested environments", was one of three USVs put through its paces. With a top speed of more than 43 knots (80 kilometres per hour; 50 miles per hour), the Black Tide can be used for intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance and "one-way strike", according to the company. Meanwhile, Carbon-Based Technology Inc's "stealth" USV could carry bombs and was cheap enough to conduct "sacrificial" missions, said company director Stacy Yu after the drone was tested. While President Lai Ching-te has pledged to make Taiwan "the Asian hub" for drone production, there have been challenges to ramping up the island's output. Taiwan's annual production capacity for aerial drones is between 8,000 to 10,000 units, well below its 2028 target of 180,000 units, the Research Institute for Democracy, Society and Emerging Technology (DSET) said in a report on Monday. High manufacturing costs from using non-China components made it "difficult for Taiwanese products to compete with Chinese-made products in the commercial market," DSET analysts said. And limited domestic orders and a scarcity of foreign government contracts were also impeding "further scaling" of production, it said.--AFP
Straits Times
10 hours ago
- Business
- Straits Times
Taiwan seals Ukraine combat-tested drone software deal to help deter China
Auterion said it had agreed to a strategic partnership with Taiwan for uncrewed systems and drone swarming software. PHOTO: REUTERS SUAO, Taiwan - Taiwan sealed a partnership deal on June 17 with US and German-based Auterion for drone software battle-tested in Ukraine to help strengthen the island's defences against growing military threats from giant neighbour China. Auterion, whose software is used in Ukrainian drones operating combat missions against Russia, said the deal could eventually lead to the technology being used in millions of drones for Taiwan. China views democratically governed Taiwan as its own territory and has ramped up its military pressure over the past five years, including staging half a dozen rounds of war games. Taiwan's government rejects Beijing's sovereignty claims. Since Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022, Taiwan has been studying how Ukraine has deployed drones, both in the air and at sea, to successfully offset Russia's numerical advantage on the battlefield, given China's forces also outnumber Taiwan's. Auterion said it had agreed to a strategic partnership with the Taiwan defence ministry's research and development arm, the National Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology, for uncrewed systems and drone swarming software. 'What we're bringing to the table has been combat-proven in Ukraine to deter aggression and destroy tanks, naval assets, and other really expensive equipment. So by building a large autonomous fleet, Taiwan can deter China,' Auterion's chief executive Lorenz Meier told Reuters. 'The partnership is super long-term. So I think in terms of, if you're trying to put that in number of drones or dollars, we're expecting millions of drones eventually over multiple years and hundreds of millions of dollars in value that's being created,' he added, speaking at a ministry-organised sea drone exhibition at the north-eastern Taiwanese port of Suao. Pushed by the United States, Taiwan has been working to transform its armed forces so as to be able to wage 'asymmetric warfare', using mobile and often cheaper weapons which still pack a targeted punch, like drones and truck-mounted missiles. Chung-Shan president Lee Shih-chiang thanked the five foreign companies who participated at the Suao exhibition. 'I believe that you will soon be sanctioned by the Chinese government, but do not fear, because you have chosen the democratic camp,' he added. Ukraine has deployed sea drones not only to attack ships in Russia's Black Sea fleet, but also to shoot down aircraft. The unmanned sea drones on display in Suao included not only those that could be packed with explosives for high-speed suicide missions, but smaller craft that can conduct low-profile reconnaissance. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
