Taiwan defense firms showcase unmanned tech, urge budget clarity

Taiwanese defense technology firm Thunder Tiger (雷虎科技) recently held its first public demonstration of the "Sea Shark" series of unmanned speedboats at Dapeng Bay. The demonstration featured technology developed by U.S. unicorn Shield AI, specifically its Hivemind core, integrated into Thunder Tiger's vessels.

“

National budgets and policies are very important for the development of the industry, and we hope they can be clarified as soon as possible.

Thunder Tiger Chairman Chen Guan-ru emphasized the critical role of national budgets and clear government policies in fostering the development of the defense industry. He stated that a swift clarification of these elements would determine the pace, scale, and public acceptance of domestic defense initiatives. Chen noted that international military industry players are observing these developments, leading to partnerships like the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed with Shield AI.

Given Taiwan's strategic location surrounded by water and facing "gray zone" harassment, Chen highlighted the importance of unmanned aerial and maritime systems. He expressed hope for clear budgetary outcomes to guide industry investment, strategic alliances, and supply chain development. The collaboration with Shield AI, initiated by an MOU in May, combines Shield AI's autonomous systems with Thunder Tiger's speedboat technology.

“

Unmanned speedboats and Taiwan's defense, surrounded by the sea on all sides, are particularly important.

Chen believes that the recent demonstration is just the beginning, with plans to enhance cooperation, integrate more sensors, and expand fleet capabilities. He pointed to the Russia-Ukraine war as evidence of the growing importance of unmanned systems in modern defense. For Taiwan, situated in the first island chain, developing unmanned speedboats presents a significant geographical advantage.

“

From the start of the Russia-Ukraine war to the present, one can see the importance of unmanned aircraft and ships in national defense.

Responding to concerns about potential harassment from mainland China using drone swarms, Chen advocated for a "swarm strategy" and AI-driven autonomous unmanned vehicles. He stressed that effectively countering such threats requires not only the platforms but also sophisticated AI systems that enable operators to quickly adapt to complex scenarios across land, sea, and air.

“

We need to use 'swarm strategy' and AI autonomous unmanned vehicles.