As the US steps up efforts to secure its unmanned systems supply chain from Chinese influence, Taiwan is emerging as a key potential partner, leveraging its cybersecurity protocols and expanding defense ambitions.
Former US Army Secretary Christine Wormuth led a defense delegation to Taipei earlier this month, attending the Taiwan-US Defense Industry Forum on June 11, 2025. Talks focused on boosting cooperation in drones and autonomous systems, building on momentum from prior bilateral engagements.
A key focus of the discussions was the Blue UAS Initiative, a Pentagon program aimed at creating a verified network of drone manufacturers that excludes Chinese components, commonly referred to as the "red supply chain." US officials encouraged Taiwanese companies to comply with these requirements to access expanding opportunities in the US defense procurement market.
The Blue UAS standard: America's trusted list
Introduced about five years ago, the Blue UAS certification has established itself as a key benchmark for defense procurement in Washington. Companies that receive this certification are recognized as pre-approved suppliers authorized for participation in the Department of Defense's tactical drone initiatives. Currently, twelve companies hold this certification, including major players such as Skydio and Parrot, along with Flightwave Aero, Harris Aerial, Easy Aerial, Inspired Flight, Blue Halo, Wingtra, Ascent AeroSystems, Freefly, Teal, and Vantage Robotics.
Taiwan's market strategy: Small base, global aspirations
Taiwanese drone manufacturers face a limited domestic market, prompting them to rely heavily on international contracts and defense partnerships for expansion. Establishing a presence within the US-supported non-red supply chain is seen as both a strategic necessity and a key competitive advantage.
Stayne Hoff, Asia-Pacific business development director at US drone company Red Cat Holdings, highlighted that US supply chain oversight has intensified, extending beyond the exclusion of Chinese components to include more rigorous evaluation of secondary and alternative suppliers. Hoff noted Taiwan's ongoing efforts to align with these standards.
Taiwan's own blue list: Stricter than Washington's?
While Taiwan lacks an official counterpart to the Blue UAS list, sources indicate the island has started implementing its own rigorous cybersecurity measures for military-grade drone procurement. These protocols are designed to eliminate Chinese components and mitigate cybersecurity risks.
Some manufacturers argue that Taiwan's audits could even surpass Blue UAS standards in intensity. While US certification focuses on hardware, Taiwan's scrutiny reportedly extends to chip-level origins and import documentation. In some cases, companies are required to provide source code analysis—a step that has raised concerns among developers, who view their code as critical intellectual property.
Bridging standards for faster certification
To avoid duplication of effort and streamline access to the Blue UAS program, industry players in Taiwan are actively lobbying the government to align its cybersecurity standards with those of the US Department of Defense. A convergence of certification frameworks would not only reduce compliance costs but also allow Taiwanese firms to expedite their entry into the US defense supply ecosystem.
The Blue UAS program, while initially centered on complete drone systems, has expanded its scope to include subsystems such as sensors, processors, software, and AI modules. Should Taiwan and the US establish mutual recognition for testing and certification procedures, Taiwanese-certified platforms could be swiftly adopted by American prime contractors, without the need for prolonged re-evaluation.
As geopolitical tensions continue to reshape defense procurement policies worldwide, Taiwan's emphasis on robust cybersecurity and supply chain transparency may prove to be its strongest selling point—one that could fast-track its rise as a trusted contributor to America's next-generation drone fleet.
Article edited by Jerry Chen
