Taiwan military drones unlikely to hasten US ‘hellscape’ against mainland Chinese attack

Taiwanese defence ministry’s plan to add hundreds of AI-equipped devices to its arsenal this year remains challenging, experts say

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The Taiwanese defence ministry has submitted a report to the legislature outlining its ambitions to buy 968 AI-equipped attack and surveillance UAVs this year. Photo: AP

Published: 2:00pm, 18 Jun 2024Updated: 3:43pm, 18 Jun 2024

Taiwan’s plan to acquire nearly 1,000 military drones equipped with artificial intelligence this year is aimed at bolstering its asymmetric warfare capabilities to counter the escalating threats posed by the People’s Liberation Army, experts said.

However, the observers cautioned that achieving a substantial fleet of advanced drones to implement the US-proposed “hellscape” strategy in the Taiwan Strait – designed to thwart potential PLA attacks – remains challenging and unlikely in the near term.

In a report submitted to the legislature for review on Monday, the defence ministry outlined its intention to procure 968 attack and surveillance drones this year from the island’s premier weapons builder as well as private contractors.

According to the report, the government-funded Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology will provide the attack drones, including medium and large-sized variants, with the private sector fulfilling the rest of the ministry’s requirements.

The report said private contractors will provide second-generation short-range uncrewed aerial vehicles (UAVs), as well as miniature, target acquisition, surveillance, ship-based and land-based drones for military use.

The acquisition of these seven drone types “has already factored in existing artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) technologies”, the report said.