Taiwan-developed unmanned aircraft will be commissioned early next year as part of the military’s efforts to build up asymmetric/innovative defense capabilities, a local newspaper reported on Monday. A total of 32 UAS have been produced in the initial stage, with eight to be deployed in each of the country’s four major combat sectors, the Chinese-language China Times daily said. Citing unnamed senior officials, the paper said the indigenously produced UAS can fly as high as 6,000 feet and stay in the air for up to 12 hours. If Taiwan is threatened, the officials said, the remotely piloted aircraft would be able to fly into China’s southeastern coastal airspace to conduct instant reconnaissance missions.
The following is an excerpt from the China Times report on the UAS development project:
The UAS were developed by the military-run Chungshan Institute of Science and Technology (CIST) under a plan code-named “Chunghsiang No. 1.”
They were unveiled at a Double Ten National Day military parade in 2007 for the first time. Over the following three years, they underwent numerous test flights in the country’s Hankuang and Changsheng military drills. The aircraft managed to meet combat requirements early this year. In April, eight of them were deployed into two squadrons for experimental service at various army bases around Taiwan. They have been repainted gray and will be displayed during the centennial National Day military parade October 10.
Military officials said the CIST has spent 10 years developing the UAS. Initially, the aircraft were supposed to be deployed on the outlying frontline islands to give them access to Chinese airspace in the event of a cross-strait war. As tension in the Taiwan Strait has eased in recent years, however, the military has decided to deploy them only at various military bases on Taiwan proper.
Intelligence sources said China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA) already deployed 11 JWP-2 unmanned aerial vehicles and command vehicles at its base at Meizhou Airport in Guangdong Province early this year.
According to the sources, the PLA’s JWP-2 UAS were showcased in China’s 60th National Day military review in 2009. The Chinese-developed UAS can be used for wartime reconnaissance and can also be disguised as cruise missiles to consume Taiwan’s expensive and limited number of air-to air defence missiles.
Source: Focus Taiwan