TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Taiwan's Ministry of National Defense Armaments Bureau (國防部軍備局) announced Wednesday (July 23) an ambitious plan to acquire 48,750 military drones by 2027, marking the island democracy's largest unmanned aerial vehicle procurement to strengthen asymmetric warfare capabilities against China. The government prioritizes domestic production and assembly of these drones while strictly prohibiting Chinese-made components in a strategic move to bolster Taiwan's defense independence.
The Government e-Procurement System reveals the procurement encompasses five distinct drone models with flight durations ranging from seven minutes to 2.5 hours. Taiwan's military plans to acquire 7,500 units of the primary model in 2026, followed by 26,500 units in 2027. This multi-rotor design features vertical takeoff and landing capabilities with control and image transmission ranges exceeding 6 kilometers (3.7 miles).
The second model provides over 60 minutes of flight and hover time with ranges exceeding 25 kilometers (15.5 miles), with 1,100 units in 2026 and 3,200 in 2027. The third model features fixed-wing design with loitering capability, offering over two hours of flight time and ranges exceeding 180 kilometers (111.8 miles), totaling 970 units in 2026 and 2,980 in 2027. Additional models include a 30-minute flight variant with 30-kilometer (18.6-mile) range and a vertical takeoff model with 100-kilometer (62.1-mile) control range.
The bureau emphasized that amid China's increasing military and psychological pressure on Taiwan, the island's military continues enhancing training programs and reforming defense systems to address escalating threats. This massive drone acquisition represents Taiwan's commitment to developing cost-effective asymmetric warfare capabilities against a numerically superior adversary across the Taiwan Strait. The procurement strategy prioritizes domestic manufacturing capabilities while strengthening Taiwan's defense industrial base through local component sourcing and assembly operations. ◼