Taiwan has signed an NT$26.9 billion (US$ 847 million) contract to acquire more than 2,000 US-made attack and reconnaissance drones as it expands its asymmetric capabilities.
Taiwan Army conducts live-fire exercise with ALTIUS-600M on maritime targets in June. (Military News Agency photo)
The Army previously acquired 291 basic Altius-600M drones through its regular budget, with the systems reportedly achieving a 100% hit rate in a recent live-fire maritime exercise. The performance helped support plans to significantly expand the drone fleet through the special budget.
Altius-700M
The Altius-700M is designed to strike targets such as heavy armoured vehicles and air defence systems. It can carry a 14- to 15-kilogram heavy warhead capable of destroying modern main battle tanks or fortified positions, with destructive power nearly equivalent to that of an AGM-114 Hellfire missile.
The Altius-600 ISR is an unmanned aerial vehicle designed for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance missions, including battlefield searches, target designation, and electronic warfare. With the same endurance as the Altius-600M, it can loiter over target areas for extended periods to conduct surveillance and support coordinated operations.
Initial deliveries of the new drones are expected to begin in the fourth quarter, with the full order scheduled for completion by June 2033, according to Liberty Times.
The Ministry of National Defence said the acquisition will strengthen Taiwan’s defence resilience, while the Army has established a dedicated unit to develop unmanned systems and integrate them into its joint command structure.
Sources: Liberty Times; Taiwan Times