TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Thunder Tiger Chair Chen Kuan-ju (陳冠如) said that Taiwan should expand the development of the drone industry in R&D and mass production to meet the growing global demand for commercial and military drones.
Chen made the remarks during a drone industry forum hosted Thursday by Wealth Magazine at the Regent Taipei. Speakers at the event also included Industrial Development Administration Director-General Chiu Chiu-hui (邱求慧), Chiayi County Magistrate Weng Chang-liang (翁章梁), Gus Technology Chair Chang Chung-chieh (張忠傑), Myson Century’s Drone Division Director Chu Chien-chuan (曲建全), per CNA.
Chen said Taiwan should focus on creating a fully domestically produced drone brand and leverage its China-free supply chain advantage. On Monday, Cathy Fang (方怡然), policy analyst at the Taipei-based Research Institute for Democracy, Society and Emerging Technology, also emphasized that Taiwan’s strengths in semiconductors and electronics can help democratic allies reduce their reliance on Chinese-made drones and components.
The widespread use of drones for reconnaissance and attacks in the Russia-Ukraine war highlights their critical roles in modern national defense, Chen said. He added that drones are effective in asymmetric warfare, a type of conflict where two nations have vastly different military capabilities and strategies.
Chu said that Taiwan has fewer companies developing key drone components than those focused on drone manufacturing. If manufacturers rely on foreign components, they become more vulnerable to geopolitical influences, which can drive up costs and reduce their competitiveness in the market, Chu noted.
The US drone market is a significant part of the global drone industry, Chu said. With the US considering a ban on Chinese drones due to national security concerns, this presents an opportunity for Taiwan-made drones to expand their presence in the American market.
Chang said the lithium batteries used in drones should meet key requirements such as being safe, capable of fast charging and discharging, possessing a long lifespan, and having high energy density. For military drones, manufacturers must also ensure the batteries perform reliably in combat environments and during underwater operations.
Chiu said the global military drone market is expected to reach an annual output value of NT$2.04 trillion (US$62.5 billion) by 2035, with commercial drones set to reach NT$1.67 trillion. He noted the government's strong emphasis on developing the drone industry and its ongoing support for local companies in securing international orders.
Weng said the government established the Asia UAV AI Innovation Application R&D Center in Chiayi in 2022. As of April, 45 companies and research institutions have joined the center. Due to growing demand from companies to expand their R&D facilities, the government plans to construct an additional 10-hectare site in the county’s Taibao City.
Weng added that the government also invested NT$6.86 billion to develop an aerospace park in the county’s Minxiong Township. This facility will focus on the R&D, testing, and production of military drones and their components, with completion expected by 2028.
