Taiwan to Test Attack Drone Boat, Host USV Demos in June

Taiwan is ramping up drone development with a combat evaluation of its drone attack boat and a demonstration of uncrewed surface vessels (USVs) from various industry specialists. 

The “Kuai Chi” drone attack boat, developed by the country’s National Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology (NCSIST), will have its combat capabilities tested next month against various surface targets.

Meanwhile, several local and overseas manufacturers will showcase their USV capabilities, including surveillance operations and long-distance navigation tests, on June 17 and 18.

The event consists of two parts. Participants will first present their marine drones in static displays at Lungteh Shipbuilding’s Plant No. 6 facility before conducting live operational demos at the Jiugongli Viewing Platform.

After the exhibition, NCSIST aims to assess each manufacturer’s technology and readiness, which will shape future procurement specifications and support Taiwan’s push for standardized control systems across its growing unmanned maritime fleet.

The event will be held along the country’s northeastern coast of Suao in Yilan County.

12 firms will enter the June USV demonstration in Yilan, Taiwan, with 4 live demonstrations (Thunder Tiger, Carbon-Based Technologies, Corum, and Lung Teh) and 8 additional static displays (JetSea AI, GEOSAT, Robuff, Ocean Aero, MARTAC, DSRG, Auterion, and HII).

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Kuai Chi

Despite its testing taking place in the same month as the USV demonstrations, the Kuai Chi will not be included on the roster due to its “sensitive” nature, according to NCSIST official Sun Chun-ching. 

Aside from NCSIST noting that the boat’s core technologies are made entirely in-house, little information about its technical specifications has been disclosed.  

If the combat evaluation proves successful, the attack USV will undergo a precision live-fire missile drill at Jiupeng Base in Pingtung County in August and possibly be presented to the public in September.

Advancing Drone Development

The combat evaluation and the USV demonstration are part of Taipei’s efforts to accelerate drone development amid looming threats of a potential Chinese invasion.

Among the self-governed country’s recent milestones is the unveiling of its first domestically built 8.6-meter (28-foot) USV and the planned formation of its first-ever army drone units later in 2025.