Under the continuing threat from China, Taiwan is working at high speed on a new type of maritime force: unmanned vessels and drone boats. At a recent trade fair, small but technologically advanced vessels were presented, such as the tiny “stealth” Carbon Voyager 1, the fast Black Tide I and the explosive-laden Sea Shark 800. These platforms show how both start-ups and established companies are contributing to what Taipei considers a crucial part of its defence against Beijing.
Taiwan sees drones – from boats to aerial platforms and autonomous vehicles – as cornerstones of an asymmetric strategy. According to lawmaker Chen Kuan-ting of the ruling Democratic Progressive Party, the strength of drones lies not in building a system for every Chinese weapon, but in cheap, smart innovations that suit Taiwan’s unique terrain and strategic needs.
Why maritime drones?
A possible attack by China would almost certainly come by sea. The Taiwan Strait is about 180 kilometres wide, and an amphibious attack requires large-scale troop crossings. At the same time, Taiwan’s coasts and shallow waters are difficult terrain for traditional ships. This is where drone boats can show their strength. Experience from Ukraine has shown that drones and unmanned vessels can effectively slow or block enemy movements. Taiwan wants to apply the same tactics to deter the PLA, China’s army, and complicate any troop landings.
Image CSBC: the Endeavor Manta drone.
Taiwan’s maritime drone portfolio
One of the most important suppliers is CSBC Corporation, one of Taiwan’s largest shipbuilders. It has developed the Endeavor Manta, an unmanned surface vessel that can carry explosives, launch light torpedoes and support UAVs. The Manta is about 8.6 metres long, reaches speeds of up to 65 kilometres per hour and up to 50 drone boats can be controlled at once from a single base. This makes it ideal for swarm attacks, in which dozens of small boats can harass enemy ships at the same time.
In addition, there are smaller prototypes such as the Carbon Voyager 1, Black Tide I and Sea Shark 800. These focus on a range of tasks: from kamikaze-style attacks to reconnaissance and surveillance. Using different kinds of drone boats gives Taiwan flexibility and makes the defence versatile and hard to predict for an attacker.
Suppliers, partnerships and industrial growth
Taiwan’s drone ecosystem is a mix of national design teams, local high-tech start-ups, traditional shipbuilders and some foreign partners. The government encourages this through the “Drone National Team” strategy, a public-private initiative intended to accelerate production and innovation. CSBC plays a central role in this, but there are also partnerships with foreign companies to deploy advanced autonomous systems faster and strengthen local production.
In addition to maritime drones, Taiwan is also developing autonomous aerial and underwater drones. The Hui Long-class unmanned submarine is an example of how Taiwan also wants to detect and hinder the enemy in deeper waters. Through this combination of unmanned systems, Taiwan aims to build a broad defence that can be effective in different ways.
Image: a drone boat from Taiwan designed to attack large frigates.
Production, ambition and challenges
Taiwan has ambitious goals: by 2028 the local industry is to produce 15,000 dual-use drones a month. The Ministry of National Defense has ordered thousands of military and dual-use drones from domestic manufacturers. At the same time, UAVs are being imported from the United States, with a new target of another 47,000 drones over the next four years. Taiwan thus wants to quickly build up a large arsenal that can be used both offensively and defensively.
Still, Taiwan faces challenges. Production is partly dependent on foreign components, such as advanced sensors and GPS modules. Moreover, China is putting pressure on Western suppliers, making some technologies harder to obtain. This makes developing its own systems all the more important for Taipei.
The role of drone boats in Taiwan’s defence
In a conflict, drone boats would play a crucial role in the first line of defence along Taiwan’s west coast. With cheap, repeatable systems, the island can slow enemy fleets, disrupt their logistics and complicate command and control. Drone boats can hinder troop landings, guard coastal zones and support electronic warfare. This approach fits Taiwan’s broader “porcupine strategy”: arming the island so heavily and in such a complex way that an invasion becomes extremely costly and risky for China.
Drone boats are not a replacement for traditional ships, but a supplement that offers speed, flexibility and economies of scale. By deploying dozens or hundreds of drones at once, Taiwan can force an enemy to adapt its tactics, make mistakes and lose resources.
Final thoughts
While China invests heavily in its navy and air force, Taiwan opts for a smart combination of technology, industrial ambition and asymmetric tactics. Drone boats and other unmanned systems form a modern weapon in this strategy. They are flexible, can be used in large numbers and fit perfectly with Taiwan’s geographical and strategic situation. With this innovative defence posture, Taiwan is trying to make it as difficult as possible for China in the event of an attack on the island. Let us hope it never comes to that.
