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Friday 17 July 2026
Japan's ACSL eyes Taiwan drone supply chain expansion, commits to TADTE 2027
Japanese industrial drone maker ACSL is open to expanding procurement from Taiwan as it strengthens its international supply chain strategy, with the company accepting an invitation to participate in the 2027 Taipei Aerospace & Defense Technology Exhibition (TADTE) during a visit by Taiwan External Trade Development Council (TAITRA) Chairman James C.F. Huang to ACSL's R&D headquarters on July 15.
Friday 17 July 2026
Taiwan drone sector expands Japanese tie-ups

Taiwan's drone industry has grown rapidly in recent years, with output surging from about NT$5 billion (US$154.87 million) in 2024 to NT$12.9 billion in 2025, while export value jumped from NT$140 million to NT$2.9 billion. Still, compared with semiconductors and electronics assembly, the drone sector remains small, making it critical for the industry to expand technology cooperation and secure government subsidies.

Thursday 16 July 2026
Thunder Tiger splits drone unit into specialized entities for anti-drone systems, engines
Thunder Tiger is widening its drone business in Taiwan and the US as it prepares new models for 2026, sets up two new entities, and advances work tied to counterdrone systems and aircraft engines. The company said the moves are part of a broader push into the global drone market as its work under the US Department of Defense's Drone Dominance Program moves into a second phase.
Wednesday 15 July 2026
Taiwan becomes Ukraine's third-largest drone battery supplier
A new report released by the Taiwanese national think tank Research Institute for Democracy, Society and Emerging Technology (DSET) found that Taiwan's drone battery industry has achieved steady growth and significant progress in recent years, with Taiwan now Ukraine's third-largest supplier of drone batteries, behind China and Vietnam.
Wednesday 15 July 2026
AI image sensor chip makers accelerate shift to algorithms, modules
AI image sensor chips have become a key market for Taiwan's IC design firms, with major players such as Novatek Microelectronics, Realtek Semiconductor, and Himax Technologies, as well as mid-sized companies including Sunplus Technology, Egis Technology, and Etron Technology, all stepping up their efforts. Among firms also pushing into drone imaging solutions, including Elan Microelectronics and PixArt Imaging, a broad consensus is emerging: compute power and price are not the real winning factors in this market.
Monday 13 July 2026
Taiwan's Jiin Ming joins Japan-Ukraine Drone Cluster talks on drone systems
Taiwanese drone manufacturer Jiin Ming Industry attended the launch press conference for the Japan-Ukraine Drone Cluster (JUDC) at the Foreign Correspondents' Club of Japan (FCCJ) in Tokyo. This marks the company's latest step in expanding its international footprint following its entry into the European market.
Sunday 12 July 2026
Coretronic's second quarter revenue topped NT$10 billion as display weakness persisted
Coretronic's latest sales update signals a mixed picture for the global electronics market, with demand improving in energy-saving products but lingering weakness in imaging. For international readers, the results highlight how tariffs, exchange-rate swings, and geopolitical risks continue to shape supply chains and customer demand across devices worldwide.
Friday 10 July 2026
Thunder Tiger sees Taiwan's edge in drone supply chains
Drones should be seen as "flying computers," and Taiwan has an edge in the drone market with its supply chain advantages, according to Thunder Tiger chairman William Chen. Moreover, since as much as 80% of drone components on the frontlines in Russia and Eastern Europe come from China, defense buyers in Europe and the US have become more concerned about the urgent need for "non-red" supply chains.
Monday 6 July 2026
Taiwan drone makers gain as Europe focuses on trust and supply chain resilience
Global drone demand continues to heat up, and Taiwanese manufacturers are aggressively expanding overseas. Industry players say the market's most urgent focus has shifted from price and delivery time to competition among trusted supply chains.
Friday 3 July 2026
Medical demand, multimedia shipments drive Sonix recovery as drone strategy gains traction
With supply chain inventory normalization largely complete, Sonix Technology (Sonix) has seen business momentum recover. The MCU supplier is benefiting from resilient demand for microcontrollers used in medical monitoring devices and steady shipments of multimedia image-processing chips, giving it better order visibility for 2026 than in previous years. Meanwhile, the company's drone business has entered niche commercial and industrial applications, providing a stepping stone toward higher-end markets.
Friday 3 July 2026
'Switchblade' drone maker AeroVironment deepens Taiwan supply chain ties
US drone maker AeroVironment has worked closely with Taiwan-based supply chain partners over the past three years, with the company noting that many of its product components are now co-developed and manufactured by both sides. Moreover, the defense tech company has also established a direct communication channel in Taiwan in recent years to support Taiwan's national defense resilience program.
Wednesday 1 July 2026
Taiwan sends defense drone bills to committee review as supply chain ramps up
Taiwan's legislature moved defense drone proposals to committee review on July 3 after heated debate, advancing plans to fund a domestic autonomous unmanned vehicles program and prompting a near-term boost in activity across the local drone supply chain. The Executive Yuan had approved a draft special act backed by a special budget of NT$210 billion (US$6.6 billion) for procurement of autonomous defense unmanned vehicles, and rival bills from the Kuomintang and the Taiwan People's Party were also sent to committee review.
Monday 29 June 2026
Weekly news roundup: South Korea takes physical AI push from policy to practice; Europe aggressively pursues non-red supply chains
Below are the most-read DIGITIMES Asia stories from the week of June 22-28, 2026:
Friday 26 June 2026
AIDC showcases advanced composite materials for next-gen aircraft, drones
To meet the aerospace industry's push for lighter, more environmentally sustainable next-generation aircraft, Taiwan's Aerospace Industrial Development Corporation (AIDC) has stepped up research and development of thermoplastic composite materials in recent years.
Friday 26 June 2026
Taiwan to draft new drone budget after defense bill cuts
Taiwan's Executive Yuan has decided to draft a separate special bill to support drone development and procurement after the Legislative Yuan cut relevant items from the NT$1.25 trillion (approx. US$39 billion) special budget for national defense, with the Executive Yuan citing national security concerns and the need to build an autonomous industrial supply chain. The move comes as a delegation of lawmakers, led by Speaker Daniel K.Y. Han, returns from a visit to TSMC's Arizona plant and meetings with US lawmakers, yet it remains unclear whether that trip will help win opposition support for the drone bill.
Friday 26 June 2026
Taiwan revives NT$210 billion drone procurement plan amid industry hopes and concerns
Taiwan's Ministry of National Defense has revived a NT$210 billion (approx. US$6.6 billion) special bill for unmanned vehicle procurement after the Legislative Yuan in May 2026 stripped out all domestic-industry-friendly items from an earlier defense special budget, leaving only arms purchases. The Executive Yuan has now approved the draft, raising hopes and concerns across the drone industry.
Friday 26 June 2026
Europe aggressively pursues non-red supply chains; Thunder Tiger showcases unmanned combat systems in Poland
Unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) manufacturer Thunder Tiger recently participated in the Taiwan Expo in Europe 2026 in Warsaw, Poland, showcasing its combat solutions. It said European markets are prioritizing non-red supply chains. In addition to establishing a presence in Ohio, the company has obtained multiple certifications and is integrating with Taiwanese suppliers to build a non-Red supply chain ecosystem.
Friday 26 June 2026
Taiwan drone makers pivot to non-China supply chains to win overseas markets
Taiwanese drone manufacturers are accelerating their expansion into overseas markets as domestic defense and program budgets remain unstable, executives said, making international sales the primary growth engine. Demand varies by region, and firms are increasingly emphasizing their non-China supply chains to address geopolitical concerns and customer requirements.
Monday 22 June 2026
FineMat pivots beyond metal masks with AI cooling, semiconductor, and drone push
Amid growing localization efforts across China's supply chain, FineMat Applied Materials has seen its metal mask business continue to shrink and is accelerating its transition into AI cooling, semiconductors, and drones. The company's liquid-cooling cold plates for AI applications have already been sampled by end customers and are expected to begin shipping in the second half of 2026. Once volume production ramps in 2027, cooling products could account for more than 50% of total revenue, becoming a key growth driver.
Saturday 20 June 2026
Foreign drone certification rules push Taiwan firms toward JVs

Taiwan's drone exports continue to gain momentum, driving local manufacturers to expand overseas more aggressively. But as they enter foreign markets, Taiwan companies face long local certification timelines and other regulatory hurdles, pushing their overseas strategies away from simple exports and toward localized production and joint ventures.

Thursday 18 June 2026
AbonMax eyes double-digit drone revenue by end-2026
AbonMax Technology said on June 16 that drone revenue still accounts for only about 7% to 8% of its total sales, but the company expects more visible operating results by the end of 2026 as government procurement orders and overseas expansion begin to take effect.
Wednesday 17 June 2026
Topkey accelerates carbon fiber footprint into drones, robots, and LEO satellites
Taiwan-based carbon fiber composite maker Topkey is accelerating its expansion into high-growth technology sectors, with formal evaluations underway for applications in drones, industrial robots, and low-Earth orbit (LEO) satellites. The initiative marks a strategic step in the company's transformation from a traditional sporting goods supplier into a provider of advanced composite solutions for aerospace, electronics, and smart machinery.
Wednesday 17 June 2026
AI PC design wins, drone business to boost Elan in 2H26
In light of tensions concerning non-China supply chains, microcontroller unit (MCU) supplier Elan Microelectronics expects stronger performance in the second half of 2026 as new AI PC programs enter production following the newly established drone business.
Tuesday 16 June 2026
Ubiqconn returns to YoY revenue growth in May as unmanned systems business expands
Ubiqconn Technology reported consolidated revenue of NT$121 million (approx. US$3.84 million) for May 2026, down 7% from the previous month but up 2% year-over-year, marking a return to monthly revenue growth. Cumulative consolidated revenue for the first five months of 2026 totaled NT$799 million.