TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Taiwan’s Army announced plans to procure kamikaze drones to modernize its forces.
The Army said it will purchase 685 Switchblade 300 loitering munition systems and 291 ALTIUS 600M-V UAVs from the US, CNA reported.
The US approved the potential sale in June for US$360.2 million (NT$11.53 billion). The Legislative Yuan allocated funds for the drones on Friday (Aug. 30). Delivery of the weapons will span from 2024-2026.
As modern warfare evolves, from both strategic and tactical perspectives, drones have become "standard equipment" in modernized forces, the Army said. For combat units, drones represent an "innovative and asymmetric" combat capability essential for defense operations, it said. Therefore, acquiring attack drones that meet combat needs is crucial.
The Switchblade 300 has a range of 15 kilometers, a loiter time of 15 minutes, and weighs 2.5 kilograms. It features optical and infrared sensors and is launched via a portable tube launcher.
The ALTIUS 600M-V has a range of approximately 440 kilometers, a loiter time of four hours, and weighs up to 27 kilograms. It is equipped with target acquisition and reconnaissance capabilities and can also carry a munition. Additionally, it can be launched from sea, land, and air.
