Taiwan orders dozens of autonomous sea drones to counter Chinese maritime pressure

Taiwan’s Coast Guard is set to acquire 25 surface autonomous vessels (USVs) and two underwater unmanned vehicles (UUVs) to bolster maritime surveillance and defence against increasing Chinese “gray‑zone” activity. The procurement will be conducted through the National Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology (NCSIST) in partnership with U.S. defence‑tech firm Maritime Tactical Systems (MARTAC), with the goal of field‑testing a prototype by early 2027. The programme, part of President Lai Ching‑te’s broader push for asymmetric maritime defence, is backed by a NT$64 billion budget to enhance early‑warning and monitoring capabilities in the Taiwan Strait and surrounding waters. Officials cite lessons from Ukraine’s use of inexpensive sea drones against Russia’s Black Sea fleet and recent U.S. deployments of unmanned craft in the Middle East as operational precedents. The new unmanned assets are intended to provide the Coast Guard with round‑the‑clock reconnaissance, rapid response and deterrence against larger Chinese naval forces, while also positioning Taiwan’s defence industry as a hub for democratic allies in the region.