G-Tech Optoelectronics (GTOC) said its wholly owned subsidiary has partnered with US defense technology startup Firestorm Labs and aerospace and defense solutions provider Aerkomm to advance next-generation military drone production and combat system integration, marking GTOC's entry into the military-grade unmanned aerial vehicle market. The company plans to establish a drone assembly line in Taiwan.
The partnership was facilitated by Aerkomm, a major US-based customer. Under the collaboration, GTOC and Firestorm Labs formed a strategic alliance centered on Firestorm's drone-focused additive manufacturing technology. Firestorm uses 3D printing as its core manufacturing approach, combined with modular design and an open systems architecture, enabling rapid drone assembly and fast integration of mission-specific payloads and subsystems. The approach supports low-cost, high-volume production.
GTOC's subsidiary plans to leverage its existing manufacturing capacity in Taiwan to introduce Firestorm's additive manufacturing-based drone production locally. It also aims to accelerate integration of locally developed payloads and key subsystems, creating a defense manufacturing model supported by domestic production while offering distributed, highly resilient operations and rapid capacity expansion. The model is intended to balance relatively low cost, high output, and strong mission adaptability.
Aerkomm provides multi-domain command and control
Aerkomm is contributing next-generation aerospace and defense solutions designed to enable unmanned and autonomous operations across air, sea, land, and space domains. Its core capabilities focus on highly integrated command and control platforms. By combining satellite communications (SATCOM), radar, electronic support measures (ESM), edge artificial intelligence, and swarm coordination technologies, Aerkomm's systems are designed to deliver real-time situational awareness and decision-making advantages in modern, high-intensity operational environments.
At the system level, Aerkomm offers comprehensive SATCOM integration capabilities, including phased-array satellite antennas, software-defined modems, and installation designs that can be integrated into airframe structures. These systems support beyond visual line of sight command and control communications, enabling real-time video and telemetry transmission. They can also serve as a backup communications link if primary systems fail, ensuring mission continuity.
Counter-drone capabilities and production strategy
Aerkomm also provides counter-drone electronic warfare technologies that integrate radio frequency jamming, GPS interference, and global navigation satellite system spoofing. These capabilities are designed to disrupt the control, communications, and navigation systems of unauthorized drones, strengthening protection for critical infrastructure and operational units.
The collaboration brings together Firestorm's additive manufacturing and 3D printing technologies, GTOC's local production capabilities, and Aerkomm's multi-domain communications and command-and-control solutions to develop a modern defense offering built around distributed manufacturing, localized support, and highly resilient integrated operations.
The three companies plan to apply next-generation composite materials and advanced glass antenna manufacturing technologies as part of the partnership. In addition to establishing an indigenous military drone production system in Taiwan, they plan to develop drone manufacturing bases in the US, Japan, and Europe, creating a global manufacturing footprint and defense-grade production management framework.
Article edited by Jack Wu
