At least one of the US Air Force's most secretive drones, the RQ-170 Sentinel, may have supported the US operation on January 3 that saw the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife, according to foreign media reports and analysis by defense observers.
China has maintained a clear lead over the US in drone-related technology patents since 2016, highlighting a widening technology gap as Taiwan seeks to expand its domestic drone industry and reduce reliance on China-centric supply chains. The divergence underscores the scale of the challenge facing Taiwan at a time when governments worldwide are accelerating procurement of unmanned systems and reassessing supply chain security.
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) will block the sale of foreign-made drones in the US, a decision believed to target Chinese market leader DJI and could prompt Taiwanese suppliers to accelerate investment in US manufacturing.
Taiwan-based circuit protection component maker Polytronics said its business likely hit a trough in 2025 and is poised for recovery next year, as US defense-related demand for thermal management substrates begins to return after tariff-driven order volatility disrupted shipments.
