In A First, Taiwan To Produce US-Designed Missile, Drone Amid China Tensions
Taiwan will jointly manufacture a missile and an underwater drone with a US company for the first time, officials said Thursday, as Taipei seeks to boost domestic weapons and ammunition production.
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US-made robotic dog displayed at exhibition in Taipei (File)
Taiwan has announced its first-ever collaboration with a US company to jointly manufacture both a missile and an underwater drone, officials confirmed Thursday, as part of Taiwan's strategy to enhance its domestic weapons production capabilities.
The island nation, which faces ongoing threats of invasion from China that claims Taiwan as its territory, is responding to US encouragement to increase its self-defense investments.
Earlier this year, Taiwan's National Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology (NCSIST) reached an agreement with American defense contractor Anduril to co-produce the Barracuda-500, an autonomous, cost-effective cruise missile system.
NCSIST and Anduril expanded their partnership Thursday by signing a new deal to jointly manufacture the company's underwater drone technology.
NCSIST president Li Shih-chiang confirmed to AFP that these agreements represent Taiwan's first such manufacturing partnerships with a foreign defense company.
"Our objective is to ensure that during conflict or even a blockade scenario, we can produce all necessary defensive weapons domestically," Li stated during the Taipei Aerospace and Defense Technology Exhibition where the Barracuda missile is being showcased.
Alex Chang, Anduril's Taiwan director, emphasized that their collaborative focus centers on "mass producibility" and establishing sustainable local manufacturing capacity.
Chang told AFP the company would maintain close coordination with both the United States and Taiwan throughout the process.
According to NCSIST, establishing the complete supply chain in Taiwan for the Barracuda-500 missile will require approximately 18 months, with the system utilizing 100 percent Taiwanese-made components.
Over the past decade, Taiwan has significantly increased its defense expenditure and weapons procurement while developing its indigenous defense industry.
Nevertheless, the island continues to depend heavily on arms sales from the United States to maintain deterrence against China.
A high-ranking Taiwanese legislator revealed to AFP last week that the defense ministry plans to request up to a record $33 billion in special funding to strengthen the island's defensive capabilities.
These plans include integrating Taiwan's air defense networks, acquiring advanced drone and missile detection technologies from international partners to ensure rapid response capabilities, and expanding the island's ammunition production and storage capacity for conflict scenarios.
President Lai Ching-te's administration recently announced plans to increase the 2026 defense budget to NT$949.5 billion, exceeding three percent of gross domestic product.
The government aims to further boost defense spending to five percent of GDP by 2030.