Taiwan will continuously elevate its self-reliant space technology capabilities while leveraging its long-standing strengths in semiconductors, electronics, telecommunications, and precision manufacturing, President Ching-Te Lai stated today (Nov. 9) as the 2026 Taiwan International Assembly of Space Science, Technology, and Industry (TASTI 2026) opened in the southern Taiwan city of Tainan.

On November 7, local US time, Elon Musk appeared remotely at the 33rd Baron Investment Conference in New York. During an hour-long conversation with Baron Capital founder Ron Baron, Musk repeatedly framed space-based computing power as a strategic asset.

Foxconn showcased its second-generation PEARL-1A and PEARL-1B low Earth orbit (LEO) satellites at TASTI 2026, highlighting its shift from single-satellite validation to coordinated two-satellite communications. The company also exhibited satellite communications modules, phased-array antennas, user terminals, and key cabling.

SpaceX CEO Elon Musk said the company's annual recurring revenue (ARR) will likely exceed US$500 billion in December 2027, and that a US$1 trillion run rate is no longer out of the question. However, he put the odds of the higher figure at about 2%. Musk made the remarks on November 6 during a virtual fireside chat with investor Ron Baron at the 33rd Annual Baron Investment Conference in New York, according to a clip posted by Sawyer Merritt on X and a transcript published by Tesla North.

The Department of Defense's Office of Strategic Capital (OSC) has offered Halo Industries, a semiconductor startup based in Santa Clara, California, a conditional loan commitment of US$75 million. The funding is expected to attract an equal amount of private capital to expand silicon carbide (SiC) semiconductor wafer manufacturing for defense, AI infrastructure, and high-voltage power electronics, reducing US reliance on overseas critical semiconductor materials.

The US Navy is seeking a second-generation tactical resupply drone for the Marine Corps, requiring a fuel-powered or hybrid aircraft to carry 100 pounds (about 45 kilograms) of cargo for 40 nautical miles (about 74 kilometers) and return without refueling. Flight demonstrations are scheduled from January 25 to February 5, 2027, in Huntsville, Alabama, with applications due by November 30, 2026.

As Taiwan's drone procurement program moves forward, the Navy is preparing to acquire more than 1,300 small suicide unmanned boats, with a budget approaching NT$30 billion (US$913 million). The tender could launch as early as the end of 2026, prompting local and overseas suppliers to form partnerships and showcase their capabilities at this week's Taiwan Ocean Technology and Unmanned Vehicle Show.

US space company SpaceX has developed reusable Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy rocket boosters, saving between US$32 million and US$46.5 million every time a booster is reused. To date, SpaceX has completed over 650 rocket recoveries; even its payload fairings, valued at US$6 million each, are recoverable and reusable. As Taiwan's orbital rocket program is still in its infancy, the National Science and Technology Council (NSTC) has directed plans to invest in the manufacturing of reusable rocket modules.

Ukrainian defense tech company UFORCE, creator of the Magura unmanned surface vessel credited with disabling or sinking 19 Russian warships in the Black Sea and emerging as a primary threat to Russian naval operations, is actively forging ties with Taiwanese suppliers. Ukraine's real-world combat validation is positioned to act as a launchpad for Taiwanese manufacturers entering the global defense sector.

The Research Institute for Democracy, Society and Emerging Technology (DSET) released a report on November 4 at the 2026 Taiwan Marine Tech & Unmanned Robotics Expo (MATURE Taiwan), examining Taiwan's unmanned boat industry and international cooperation. Experts from Ukraine and the US urged Taiwan and its allies to connect technology networks and move faster.

Taiwan-based IC design house ELAN Microelectronics has announced that a joint proposal submitted with Thunder Tiger and Gallopwave—titled the "Domestic AI Smart Dual-Use Drone Platform and Advanced Handheld Ground Station Comprehensive Solution Project"—has passed review by the Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA) under its IC Top Program and received government subsidies. The project aligns with Taiwan's policy on dual-use drones, which mandates that UAVs procured by public-sector entities and utilized in commercial applications meet military-civilian shared-use standards.