- Taiwan's government has proposed spending $6.5 billion over five years on drones.
- Taiwan has set a target of producing 100,000 drones a month by 2030, with about half intended for export.
- During the 10-day Han Kuang military exercises that began on Wednesday, troops practised using drones for reconnaissance and trained to detect and destroy enemy drones.
- Taiwan exported $115 million worth of drones in the first three months of 2026, surpassing its total drone exports during all of 2025.
- Taiwan's Lt. Gen. Huang Wen-chi stated that the country's drone and counter-drone efforts started relatively late, indicating a need for rapid adaptation.
- Mick Ryan, a retired Australian major general, emphasized that Taiwan has recognized the importance of drones in all phases of a potential conflict with China.
- Shu Hsiao-Huang, an associate research fellow, noted that Taiwan's military operations must undergo a total change, reflecting lessons learned from the Russia-Ukraine War.
Taiwan is intensifying its military preparations against a potential Chinese invasion, focusing on drone warfare during the Han Kuang exercises. Lt. Gen. Huang Wen-chi admitted that the island's drone initiatives began late, stating, "Our drone and counter-drone efforts started relatively late, and initially we were trying things out as we went along."5
The military aims to utilize drones for reconnaissance, tracking, and attacking Chinese forces before they can establish a foothold. Mick Ryan, a retired Australian major general, emphasized that Taiwan recognizes the importance of drones in potential conflicts, saying, "Taiwan has realized that drones will be important in all the domains, in all the phases, in a potential war with China."6
Taiwan has set an ambitious target of producing 100,000 drones a month by 2030, with half intended for export. The government plans to invest $6.5 billion over five years on drone technology. In the first quarter of 2026, Taiwan exported $115 million worth of drones, surpassing its total exports for 2025. Shu Hsiao-Huang, an associate research fellow, noted the need for a complete transformation in military operations, reflecting lessons learned from the Russia-Ukraine War, where “if you fire one round, you won't have a chance to fire a second” if stationary.1247
As Taiwan continues its military exercises, the focus on drone capabilities highlights the evolving nature of warfare in the region.
“Taiwan aims to produce 100,000 drones a month by 2030, with about half for export, and has proposed $6.5 billion in spending over five years. In the first quarter of 2026, it exported $115 million worth of drones, surpassing its total for all of 2025.”
