TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Taiwan Army conscripts will train with drones and shoulder-launched stinger missiles this year, according to a policy report published by the Cabinet on Monday.

The report said recruits will also receive pistol and machine gun live fire training, per CNA. The Cabinet said the additional training was added after reviewing performances of the first batch of army conscripts to undergo one year of compulsory military training.

Taiwan announced it would extend its compulsory military service in late 2022, and the first batch of conscripts began their extended service early last year. The Cabinet said 6,956 conscripts were recruited last year in 23 batches and 5,996 completed the training.

The Army said the recruits were trained in four phases, with the first focusing on building the physical fitness and obedience needed for combat training. It said the second and third phases involved rifle and machine gun training, and the fourth stage was a five-day assessment.

The defense ministry said last year it would invest NT$6.89 billion (US$210 million) in drones to improve its asymmetric defense capabilities, per LTN. In September, the defense ministry announced plans to buy over 1,000 stinger missiles from the US.