NEWTOWN, Conn. -- Taiwan is expanding its fleet of unmanned aircraft. China continues to threaten Taiwan with military action if it does not move more quickly with reunification talks.

To meet this threat, Taipei is looking for ways to maximize the effectiveness of its troops. Acquiring advanced weaponry is all the more important in the wake of military strength reductions. The greater use of unmanned systems will help Taiwan meet its goals.

Taiwan is using UAVs to monitor Chinese military activity near the island republic. Locally made UAVs are making additional flights from bases in eastern and southern Taiwan out over the Taiwan Strait. These missions can even gather information on Chinese military activities along the coastal region.

Even as Taipei began deploying its first tactical UAV system, it was already working on more advanced models. A new medium-altitude, long-endurance (MALE) system will soon enter service. The system is strikingly similar in appearance to the U.S.-made MQ-9 Reaper UAV.

The initial Taiwanese MALE UAV is unarmed, but Taiwan has mentioned a long-term objective of acquiring armed systems.

In the near term, Taiwan will put a MALE UAV into production. The fielding of this new system will happen sometime during the next five years. Taiwan's MALE UAV requirement will be limited, but its introduction could generate interest among foreign nations.

Source: Forecast Intelligence Center
Associated URL: https://www.forecastinternational.com
Author: L. Dickerson, Unmanned Vehicles