TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — As the number of kamikaze drones procured from the U.S. has been deemed to be inadequate to defend Taiwan from a Chinese invasion, the Ministry of National Defense (MND) has allocated funds to mass produce domestically designed loitering munitions.
The U.S. State Department on June 18 announced that it had approved the sale of 720 Switchblade 300 Anti-Personnel and Anti-Armor Loitering Missile Systems and 291 ALTIUS 600M-V Unmanned Aerial Vehicles to Taiwan. However, according to a military source, with the increasing Chinese military threat an internal assessment concluded that the number of various attack drones provided by the U.S. is still insufficient for Taiwan's defense needs, reported Liberty Times.
Therefore, Taiwan will also start the mass production of domestically-made attack drones. The Type-1 and Type-2 kamikaze drones are expected to be included in the MND's 2025 budget.
In addition, the mass production plan for Chien Hsiang anti-radiation drones, listed under a special budget for improving sea and air combat capabilities, will be completed in 2025.
The National Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology (NCSIST) is also reportedly working on performance improvements for the Chien Hsiang series. The upgraded versions are expected to be produced in small batches and included in the regular annual budget.
According to the source, the Chien Hsiang drones can target and attack enemy radar stations and shipborne radars, while the Type-1 and Type-2 drones will mainly be used by troops for anti-armor missions.
The Type-1, developed by NCSIST, is designed for individual soldiers, similar in specifications to the Switchblade 300, featuring quick deployment and easy operation. According to NCSIST data, the Type-1 has a flight time of about 15 minutes and a guided control range exceeding 10 km.
The Type-2 has a longer flight time than Type-1. The Type-2 can conduct beyond-visual-range reconnaissance and strikes using imagery, infrared, and microwave systems for targeting. The system offers flexible and mobile launch methods, including multi-launch devices for swarm attacks that can be mounted on ships or vehicles.
