UAV market key for Taiwan: experts
Taiwan must tap into the global uncrewed aerial vehicle (UAV) market to obtain the capital necessary to develop a self-sufficient combat drone industry, experts said.
As defense analysts have speculated that China might invade Taiwan in 2027 or 2032, the nation must complete the decoupling of its drone supply chains from China in the next few years, Geosat Aerospace & Technology Inc (經緯航太科技) CEO Lo Cheng-fang (羅正方) said.
The ability to produce combat drones in wartime is crucial for Taiwan’s survival, but the nation’s UAV industry is still in its infancy, said Lo, who is also chairman of the Chiayi-based Asia UAV AI Innovation Application R&D Center.
The government should support the domestic industry to ensure Taiwan’s drone supply chains remain unbroken in the event of a military conflict with China, he said.
Drones are an integral part of President William Lai’s (賴清德) Five Trusted Industry Sectors, a category consisting of the semiconductor, artificial intelligence (AI), military, security and surveillance, and next-generation communications industries.