Taiwan's armed forces tested aerial drones and unmanned attack boats during the 10-day Han Kuang military exercises in early July [1].
The expansion of these unmanned systems is a strategic shift intended to deter a Chinese amphibious invasion. By integrating drone swarms with conventional forces, Taiwan aims to increase its ability to detect, track, and strike invading forces before they can establish a beachhead [1, 2].
Defense Minister Chiu Kuo-cheng said, "We are rapidly expanding our drone fleet to be able to swarm any hostile force that tries to land on our shores" [1]. The strategy draws heavily from lessons learned from drone warfare in Ukraine, focusing on asymmetric capabilities to offset a larger adversary [1, 2].
During the exercises, the military field-tested dozens of unmanned attack boats alongside aerial drones [2, 3]. Lt. Gen. Liu Chih-ming, commander of the Han Kuang exercise, said that if China launched a massive amphibious assault, these unmanned vessels would operate in concert with missiles, and conventional forces [1].
To sustain these operations, Taiwan is aggressively scaling its domestic manufacturing. The Chief of the General Staff of the Taiwan Armed Forces said the goal is to produce up to 100,000 drones a month by 2027 [2]. While some reports indicate a target of 80,000 drones per month, the military's highest stated ambition reaches the 100,000 mark [1, 2].
The drills took place primarily around the island's coastal and offshore training ranges [2, 3]. These areas allowed the military to simulate the nightmare scenario of a coordinated blockade and invasion attempt, testing how unmanned systems can disrupt landing craft and provide real-time intelligence to command centers [1].
“"We are rapidly expanding our drone fleet to be able to swarm any hostile force that tries to land on our shores."”
Taiwan's pivot toward high-volume, low-cost unmanned systems represents a transition to an 'asymmetric' defense posture. By focusing on drone swarms and unmanned maritime vessels, Taiwan is attempting to create a 'porcupine' defense—making the cost of an invasion prohibitively high for China by utilizing expendable technology to inflict maximum attrition on landing forces.
