Taiwan to Sign Drone, Command and Control Deal With Anduril
Taiwan’s National Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology (NCSIST) has reportedly signed a memorandum of understanding with US defense firm Anduril for the procurement of a command and control system and unmanned aerial systems (UAS).
The agreement centers on Anduril’s Lattice software-based command and control decision-making platform, according to sources cited by the Taipei-based Liberty Times.
In July, the company was awarded a $99.6-million contract to lead a consortium in developing a next-generation command and control (NGC2) prototype for the US Army.
The NGC2 is designed to enable faster, more integrated decision-making across the service by supporting sensor-to-shooter data fusion and decision-making tools for mechanized platforms.
Taiwan’s Drone Push
The specific UAS platform under consideration by Taiwan has not been disclosed. However, Anduril recently introduced a next-generation uncrewed fighter jet known as the Fury.
The unmanned aircraft is designed to operate alongside manned platforms, carrying out missions such as electronic warfare, air-to-air combat, and suppression of enemy air defenses.
The development comes as Anduril founder Palmer Luckey is set to visit Taiwan on August 4.
Taiwan has already signed an agreement to procure 1,000 attack drones from the US, including 291 Altius 600M-Vs by Anduril.
As part of its strategy to develop an asymmetric force structure against a much larger China, Taiwan is prioritizing the expansion of its unmanned capabilities.
In July, Taipei announced plans to procure nearly 50,000 domestically produced drones over the next two years.
