Taiwan to Spend NT$18.8 Billion on Anti-Drone Systems Over Three Years

Taiwan’s military is moving along two tracks to build its anti-drone defenses: domestic production for portable systems and foreign purchases for a larger ground-force network.

Under the military’s five-year force-building plan, the Army has budgeted NT$18.79482 billion from 2027 through 2029 to purchase 1,114 ground-force anti-drone systems. The equipment is intended to protect ground troops, naval vessels, air-defense positions, garrison areas and key infrastructure from attacks by Type 1 and Type 2 drones.

The ground-force system will combine soft-kill and hard-kill capabilities and operate alongside air-defense systems. The military describes the broader goal as building a “shield for Taiwan” against threats including tactical ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, aircraft and drones.

The portable anti-drone system will use radio-frequency detection, identification, jamming and takeover or simulation functions against Type 1 and Type 2 drones. The Army says it will protect command posts, military units, radar sites, civilian airports, military roads, naval ships, communications and electronic units, and other high-value facilities.

The systems are meant to disrupt drone signals, prevent surveillance and precision attacks, reduce firing accuracy by forcing attackers to track targets manually, and interfere with command links. The plan has changed from an earlier version that covered 2024 to 2026 and described passive detection, active searching and electronic countermeasures, but did not include radio-frequency detection.

The report said the military’s increased reliance on imports may reflect the failure of a domestic company responsible for anti-drone systems to pass three evaluations. The Army therefore decided to buy products already judged effective in the market.