Taiwan is dramatically scaling up its drone ambitions in what could become the largest UAV procurement effort in its history. The government plans to acquire up to 100,000 unmanned aerial vehicles in the near term—nearly twice the amount previously announced, marking a major push to bolster both national defense and critical infrastructure protection.
The Ministry of National Defense's Armaments Bureau recently disclosed a fresh procurement target of 48,000 drones over the next two years. Taiwan's Executive Yuan also revealed that it is considering an additional purchase of nearly 50,000 drones, primarily for securing key national infrastructure sites. The joint effort is expected to significantly boost confidence across Taiwan's drone manufacturing ecosystem, igniting strong interest among domestic and foreign firms.
Foreign and domestic industry mobilize
The Armaments Bureau has convened a high-profile industry briefing, inviting a wide array of stakeholders to discuss UAV specifications. The event drew participation not only from local drone makers but also from U.S. and French manufacturers eager to compete. Suppliers from related sectors such as electronics, communications, and composite materials were also in attendance, seeking clarity on potential collaboration opportunities.
While the 48,000-unit military tender was the focus of the briefing, the presence of the Executive Yuan's aerospace task force marked a significant development. Government officials confirmed their intent to pursue an additional 50,000 units to be deployed for civil defense and public safety. The second-phase acquisition plan is currently under review.
Together, these procurements will elevate Taiwan's near-term drone demand to 100,000 units—an unprecedented volume for the island's nascent UAV sector.
Domestic firms to take the lead
Industry sources say local manufacturers are likely to be prioritized in the massive procurement effort. If the plan moves forward as expected, it could secure production capacity for Taiwanese companies for the next five years.
Coretronic, which won contracts in the first round of bidding, has signaled plans to compete again. Other firms, such as Thunder Tiger and GEOSAT Aerospace & Technology, are also preparing new proposals after falling short in earlier rounds. Companies, including Evergreen Aviation Technologies Corporation (EGAT) and Taiwan UAV, are evaluating whether to join the upcoming tenders.
Drone makers in Taiwan have long voiced frustration over the country's slow start in the UAV space and have urged greater government support. Many had shifted focus to international markets, citing sluggish domestic demand. The government's announcement of a 100,000-unit procurement plan is now seen as a game-changer, offering a potential lifeline to the local industry.
30-fold surge in procurement scale
Industry insiders said previous public-sector drone purchases in Taiwan were mostly small-scale pilot programs, often limited to just a handful of units. The latest procurement effort marks a dramatic shift, with volume expected to increase by as much as 30 times. One drone model alone is slated for production of 26,000 units within a year, which would require a monthly output of around 2,000 units. That figure far surpasses past production levels, which were typically in the low hundreds.
Analysts see the Defense Ministry's plan as an intentional stress test of Taiwan's manufacturing capabilities. To manage the load and prevent overwhelming any single supplier, officials are exploring two potential approaches. One would involve awarding contracts to multiple companies to spread out production, while the other would encourage teams of manufacturers to bid as consortia. Industry leaders believe the unprecedented scale of the program could drive greater integration and coordination across the local drone supply chain.
Training gap emerges as drone orders soar
Despite the scale of Taiwan's drone procurement plan, concerns are growing over whether the necessary infrastructure is in place to support such a large fleet, particularly when it comes to trained drone operators.
The Army's UAV training center, which opened in July 2024, was initially designed to train 300 personnel per year. But projections show that the military will need more than 1,000 qualified operators in both 2025 and 2026, raising alarm over a potential shortage.
Industry experts are calling on the government to expand training capacity and invest in automation. They say AI-powered swarm control systems could help fill the gap by allowing a single operator to control multiple drones at once, reducing reliance on a large pilot workforce.
Article edited by Jerry Chen
