TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Taiwan’s demand for drone ships is likely to exceed 1,500 as the military and the Coast Guard Administration revise their needs, reports said Tuesday.

The military had initially planned to acquire 1,320 drone ships, but new tasks require more of the uncrewed vehicles, the Liberty Times reported. The Army wants drone ships for its divers, while the Navy is interested in attack and reconnaissance versions for its Marines and in drones to assist with minesweeping.

The Ocean Affairs Council’s National Academy of Marine Research needs drone ships for research purposes, while its Coast Guard Administration wants them for reconnaissance and patrol tasks.

The Legislative Yuan was scheduled to start reviewing the council’s related budgets on Wednesday. The sessions with officials and lawmakers would reveal how much money and how many drone ships the government is planning for.

As for uncrewed vehicles for the military, discussions are still continuing inside the Ministry of National Defense, reports said. The drone ships are expected to be part of a seven-year special military budget worth over NT$1 trillion (US$32.8 billion).