Taiwan’s military is gearing up to roll out artificial intelligence (AI) and new unmanned aerial system (UAS) technology next year as part of a push to modernize its defenses and keep pace with fast-changing threats.
The Ministry of National Defense laid out the plan in its 2025 National Defense Report released this October, according to Taipei Times. The report puts the country’s Defense Innovation Office (DIO) — formed in February 2024 — at the center of the effort.
The DIO’s brief is simple: move capable civilian tech into service faster.
Shih Chi-liang from the ministry’s integrated assessment department said three prototype projects are already lined up for 2026.
These include an AI system to automatically identify targets in satellite imagery, an augmented-reality aid for soldiers on the ground, and a smart warehouse system to make supply chains faster and more efficient.
Contractors have already been chosen and prototype work is expected to start next year.
Building Arsenal With Small Buys
The DIO also plans small-batch purchases of UAS and counter-UAS gear, fiber-optic equipment, light weapons, and fire-control systems next year.
For now, it is still gathering feedback from various military branches to figure out what they actually need before major buying begins.
Officials said the small-batch approach fills immediate gaps, especially against drone threats, while giving units real-world time to test gear before any large-scale procurement.
Right now, some military units still rely on basic tools like flare guns and small arms to handle aerial threats, since more advanced jamming systems have not been procured yet.
“The goal is to deliver these items to units for field trials and evaluation, so we can assess their operational effectiveness and use the results as a reference for future large-scale procurements,” Shih noted.
