ALPHA THROUGH ECHO:
The center was upgraded to address the development of uncrewed systems and has conducted a drone training and live-fire exercises
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By Lo Tien-pin
and Jake Chung /
Staff reporter, with staff writer
Lawmakers on the National Defense and Foreign Relations Committee are to inspect the army’s newly established uncrewed aerial vehicle (UAV) training command center tomorrow to learn about the unit’s plans, sources said yesterday.
To address the development of uncrewed systems operations across the army, navy and air force, the center was upgraded from an army-run UAV training center on April 10.
It conducted a drone training assessment exercise on April 29 and 30, and held live-fire exercises last month and this month.
Photo courtesy of the Military News Agency
Drone battalions have been established in the army’s northern, central and southern corps on Taiwan proper, while drone squadrons are being set up in phases at outlying island defense commands and brigade-level units on Taiwan proper, the Ministry of National Defense has said.
Penghu Defense Command’s drone unit is expected to be the first to be upgraded from a squadron to a battalion next month, the ministry said.
A special budget bill proposed by the Executive Yuan would allocate NT$210 billion (US$6.59 billion) to buy 210,966 air and water-based drones, comprising 208,200 littoral attack drones, 1,446 littoral reconnaissance drones and 1,320 small suicide uncrewed surface vehicles by the end of 2031.
In addition to the NT$210 billion, the Armament Bureau — through regular government operations or related budget allocations already funded — is planning to acquire 48,750 military-specification drones, including 34,000 Alpha-type short-range multirotor drones, 7,500 of which are to be delivered this year and 26,500 next year; and 4,300 Beta-type mid-range multirotor drones with remote-control range of 25km, 1,100 of which are to be delivered this year and 3,200 next year.
The Armament Bureau is also seeking 3,950 Charlie-type long-range fixed-wing aircraft with a 90km remote-control range, 970 of which are to be delivered this year and 2,980 next year; and 5,800 Delta-type short-range fixed-wing drones with a 30km remote-control range.
It is also expected to acquire Echo-type drones, which are vertical take-off and landing fixed-wing craft that have a remote-control range of 100km. They would be used for mid to long-range maritime monitoring.
A key component in acquiring drones is to do so through a “non-China” supply chain, the ministry said, adding that long-term, large-volume orders would benefit from updates and the craft would be produced domestically.
