Taiwan’s National Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology, a key defense technology research and development organization, is reportedly planning to allocate $25 million in funding to counter Beijing’s military threats. They intend to develop two attack unmanned surface vessels based on their existing self-made target drones. If these vessels pass military operational testing, production is anticipated to begin in 2026.
The National Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology (NCSIST) is a major defense technology research and development institution in Taiwan, operating as an administrative entity supervised by the Ministry of National Defense. Its primary mission is to enhance Taiwan’s defense technology capabilities and establish an independent defense industry.
Taking inspiration from Ukraine’s successful use of remotely controlled explosive-laden attack unmanned surface vessels to counter Russian military actions and destroy multiple Russian warships, Taiwan has become increasingly attentive to this approach. High-ranking Taiwanese government officials have expressed that the application of attack unmanned vehicles has become a focus area. These vehicles can effectively execute surprise attacks, counter enemy threats, reduce casualties significantly, and leverage Taiwan’s capabilities in integrating various unmanned vehicles, whether in reconnaissance, attack, or mine clearance, both on the surface and underwater.
According to Taiwanese media reports, NCSIST has recently updated its website with information related to their existing unmanned target drone project. This target drone system is an unmanned sea-going vehicle equipped with long-distance remote control, pre-planned routes, real-time video transmission, and various devices such as radiofrequency simulators, radiofrequency interference simulation systems, heaters, flame launchers, and radar signal reflectors. It has the capability to simulate radiofrequency signals, interference signals, heat radiation signals, and radar cross-sections of various maritime targets. The system can be used in live-fire training areas with multiple sets of target drone systems to simulate different scenarios, effectively assess weapon performance, achieve realistic live-fire training environments, analyze relevant tactics, and train personnel.
The information also specifies that “this system can be combined with related unmanned surface watercraft projects to expand radar, weapons, sonar, and other modules to carry out tasks such as nearshore defense, attacks, mine detection, and anti-submarine operations.”
According to inside sources from the Taiwanese military, in response to mainland China’s military threats, NCSIST has planned a budget of NT$812 million (approximately $25 million) starting from the fiscal year 2024 for the development of two different-sized attack unmanned surface vessels based on the existing unmanned target drone. These new vessels will have varying payload capacities. The remote control distance is expected to increase from the current 60 kilometers to 70 kilometers, and the vessel’s design will focus on a streamlined, stealthy structure to maximize the element of surprise.
Insiders reveal that various types of attack unmanned drones are already in production at NCSIST. If these attack unmanned surface vessels meet the military’s operational testing requirements, production is expected to commence in the 2026 fiscal year. Research and testing for attack unmanned underwater vehicles are currently underway in parallel.