TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — National Chung Shan Institute for Science and Technology’s Kuai Chi attack unmanned surface vehicle is expected to participate in a military exercise later this summer, Sun Chun-ching (孫春青), a project lead at NCSIST’s Systems Development Center, said on Wednesday.  

The unmanned surface vehicle or USV prototype will start combat evaluations in June to ensure it meets the military's requirements, Sun said, per CNA. If all goes well, a live demonstration is planned for August at Jiupeng Base in Pingtung during a missile test fire exercise, he said. One drill will simulate a scenario in which the USV engages surface targets, Sun said. 

He added that a joint demonstration with unmanned aerial vehicles or UAVs is also under consideration. The Kuai Chi may be unveiled at the Taipei Aerospace & Defense Technology Exhibition in September, Sun said.

The Kuai Chi USV resembles commercial USVs in appearance, but its internal guidance and control systems are entirely developed in-house by NCSIST, according to CNA. These core technologies differ significantly from commercial off-the-shelf systems.

NCIST is organizing a USV demonstration next month in Suao, Yilan. Four companies are participating to showcase their USVs: Thunder Tiger’s Sea Shark 800, Carbon-based Technology’s Carbon Pioneer No. 1, Corum International’s Piranha, and Lung Teh Shipbuilding Co.’s Kuroshio.