The war in Ukraine has lent new urgency to the island’s efforts to boost defence, including the use of drones, as China steps up military activity in the area
14 March 2023 - 10:03
byYimou Lee and Ann Wang
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A view shows an Albatross II UAV on display as Taiwan's Defence Ministry showcases its domestically developed drones to the media, in Taichung, Taiwan, on March 14 2023. Picture: ANN WANG/REUTERS
Taichung — Taiwan showcased new models of its domestically produced military drones on Tuesday, saying they are essential to its “asymmetric warfare” capacity to make its forces more agile if they have to face a far larger Chinese military.
China, which has never renounced the use of force to bring Taiwan under its control, has ramped up military activity near the democratically governed island to force it to accept Chinese sovereignty, despite Taiwan’s objections.
The war in Ukraine has lent new urgency to the island’s military's efforts to bolster defence, including a push to develop drones.
In a rare display of its drone capabilities, the military-owned National Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology (NCSIST), showed off its latest models, including the Albatross II surveillance drone, and combat drones that operate with global positioning system satellites.
NCSIST head Art Chang said the war in Ukraine had focused attention on drones, and his institution had teamed up with Taiwan companies to build a “national team” to develop military drones.
Taiwan’s military has announced a partnership with companies aimed at producing 3,000 drones in 2024.
Chi Li-Pin, director of aeronautical systems research division for NCSIST, said the armed forces should increase their adoption of drones in their strategies.
“I hope our national troops can familiarise themselves with this weapon of asymmetric warfare and use them boldly,” he said.
Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen has championed the idea of “asymmetric warfare” to make Taiwan's forces more mobile and harder to attack.
Taiwan’s armed forces are well equipped but still dwarfed by China’s.
Among the drones on display was an attack drone with loitering munitions that can cruise towards a target before plummeting at velocity and detonating on impact.
China had sent its drones to areas close to Taiwan to test its responses, the island's defence ministry has said.
In 2022 Taiwan shot down a civilian drone that entered its airspace near an islet off the Chinese coast.
The defence ministry said this week that China was quickly building up its combat capacity with drones, including swarms of flying robots.
In response, Taiwan would focus on developing its combat and surveillance drones, as well as anti-drone systems, the ministry said.
Support our award-winning journalism. The Premium package (digital only) is R30 for the first month and thereafter you pay R129 p/m now ad-free for all subscribers.
Taiwan shows capabilities of new military drones
The war in Ukraine has lent new urgency to the island’s efforts to boost defence, including the use of drones, as China steps up military activity in the area
Taichung — Taiwan showcased new models of its domestically produced military drones on Tuesday, saying they are essential to its “asymmetric warfare” capacity to make its forces more agile if they have to face a far larger Chinese military.
China, which has never renounced the use of force to bring Taiwan under its control, has ramped up military activity near the democratically governed island to force it to accept Chinese sovereignty, despite Taiwan’s objections.
The war in Ukraine has lent new urgency to the island’s military's efforts to bolster defence, including a push to develop drones.
In a rare display of its drone capabilities, the military-owned National Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology (NCSIST), showed off its latest models, including the Albatross II surveillance drone, and combat drones that operate with global positioning system satellites.
NCSIST head Art Chang said the war in Ukraine had focused attention on drones, and his institution had teamed up with Taiwan companies to build a “national team” to develop military drones.
Taiwan’s military has announced a partnership with companies aimed at producing 3,000 drones in 2024.
Chi Li-Pin, director of aeronautical systems research division for NCSIST, said the armed forces should increase their adoption of drones in their strategies.
“I hope our national troops can familiarise themselves with this weapon of asymmetric warfare and use them boldly,” he said.
Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen has championed the idea of “asymmetric warfare” to make Taiwan's forces more mobile and harder to attack.
Taiwan’s armed forces are well equipped but still dwarfed by China’s.
Among the drones on display was an attack drone with loitering munitions that can cruise towards a target before plummeting at velocity and detonating on impact.
China had sent its drones to areas close to Taiwan to test its responses, the island's defence ministry has said.
In 2022 Taiwan shot down a civilian drone that entered its airspace near an islet off the Chinese coast.
The defence ministry said this week that China was quickly building up its combat capacity with drones, including swarms of flying robots.
In response, Taiwan would focus on developing its combat and surveillance drones, as well as anti-drone systems, the ministry said.
Reuters
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