Taiwan plans UAV acquisitions to boost maritime domain awareness

Taiwan's navy plans to spend NT$52.78 billion on two UAV programmes to expand maritime surveillance and targeting, according to its latest defence-budget details. The proposed fleet comprises 280 vertical-takeoff drones, associated with Shield AI's V-BAT, and 32 domestically developed Albatross II aircraft, with procurement funding spread across 2026–2029. The VTOL package includes 140 control systems and 82 transport vehicles, while the Albatross programme covers eight control stations and 48 vehicles. These aircraft are intended to support shipboard and coastal reconnaissance, target identification and cueing for Taiwan's maritime strike forces.