Planes, Boats and Robot Dogs in Taiwan's Drone Acquisition Plans

Reporter/Provider - Andy Hsueh/Lery Hiciano
Publish Date - 01/20/2026

Taiwan's defense ministry says it will look at both domestic and foreign suppliers to meet its orders for hundreds of thousands of drones across all branches of the armed forces, including aerial drones, unmanned surface vessels and land-based ground vehicles.

Taiwan Defense Ministry Expands Drone Acquisition Plans

REPORTER:

Planes, boats and now dogs? Taiwan’s defense ministry is looking to expand its use of unmanned vehicles across all facets of the armed forces, with Vice President Bi-Khim Hsiao recently visiting a local company developing quadrupedal unmanned ground vehicles – robot dogs. The army has already started conducting research and evaluations on the bots.

REPORTER:

While these may be the most eye-catching drones the defense ministry wants to acquire, they are far from the focus. The ministry has announced its intention to acquire more than 200,000 aerial drones, more than a thousand drone boats, and counter-drone systems. Some of these would be domestically developed and manufactured, while others would come from foreign suppliers like US-based Anduril.

Experts say these drones could fulfill a variety of battlefield roles.

Eric Shih (CHIEF EDITOR, MILITARY & AVIATION NEWS TAIWAN):

The drones, I mean, the unmanned system, are important to the future battlefield.

Eric Shih (CHIEF EDITOR, MILITARY & AVIATION NEWS TAIWAN):

Robot dog can be used as both reconnaissance and even used to engaged.

REPORTER:

However, some experts also say that while the financial support from the ministry is welcome, the domestic industry needs further support to fulfill its potential.

Chen Po-hung (EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, TAIWAN TACTICAL RESEARCH ASSOC.):

Companies are not able to carry out

enough flight-testing time domestically.

Regulations should be loosened

or specific areas designated to allow

for drone operations and testing.

Eric Shih (CHIEF EDITOR, MILITARY & AVIATION NEWS TAIWAN):

Taiwan's drone system is very, very far, far away from PLA. They are advanced.

Eric Shih (CHIEF EDITOR, MILITARY & AVIATION NEWS TAIWAN):

So if it only depends on Taiwan's own technology, I think it is impossible to overcome this gap.

REPORTER:

Looking at lessons from the war in Ukraine, it is clear that drones are becoming an important part of modern combat.