Taiwan Eyes Buying Nearly 50,000 Domestic Drones Within Two Years
Taiwan has announced plans to procure 48,750 domestically produced drones by 2027 to boost asymmetric defense capabilities, Liberty Times reported.
The solicitation called for models that fall under one of five drone categories, including multi-rotor, fixed-wing, and hybrid uncrewed aerial vehicles (UAVs) of varying ranges and endurance.
Each drone and component must be sourced, manufactured, and assembled in Taiwan, with strict restrictions against Chinese-origin parts or systems, as well as suppliers with any ties to China.
This marks a significant increase from Taipei’s previous acquisition effort of 3,000 drones in 2023.
Drone Categories
There are five UAV categories, A to E.
Types A and B are both multi-rotor drones.
However, Type A must feature vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) capabilities with a range of over 6 kilometers (3.7 miles) and a payload capacity of over 2.5 kilograms (5.5 pounds).
These must remain airborne for over 30 minutes when unloaded.
The Taiwanese military intends to acquire 7,500 Type A drones by next year, followed by an additional 26,500 units in 2027.
Meanwhile, Type B drones must have a range of over 25 kilometers (15.5 miles), remaining airborne for at least 60 minutes while carrying a 10-kilogram (22 pounds) payload.
The military intends to procure 1,100 units in 2026 and 3,200 units in 2027.
Types C and D are both modular, fixed-wing, and catapult-launched UAVs.
Type C drones must be easy to disassemble, have a range of over 90 kilometers (56 miles), and have a minimum endurance of two hours. The military plans to procure 970 units in 2026 and 2,980 in 2027.
Traveling at a distance of just over 30 kilometers (18.6 miles), Type D drones must feature a minimum endurance of 30 minutes. The military plans to procure 1,350 and 4,450 units in 2026 and 2027, respectively.
Finally, the military intends to acquire 350 units in 2026 and another 350 in 2027 of Type E VTOL fixed-wing drones.
These must have a range of over 100 kilometers (62 miles), a minimum endurance of 2.5 hours, an average speed exceeding 80 kilometers (49.7 miles) per hour, and the ability to withstand wind speeds of 5 or above on the Beaufort scale.
