Battlefield demand turning Taiwan into drone manufacturing hub

A standard pick-up truck is mounted with a launching system for eight Cobra-3120 loitering munitions. TAIPEI - After years of sourcing drones from a wide range of international suppliers, including China, Ukraine has a new entrant supporting its battlefield needs: Taiwan. The self-ruled island has quietly been ramping up exports of domestically produced drones to war-torn Ukraine, underscoring how its homegrown industry has advanced in recent years, evolving from a largely experimental sector into a burgeoning supplier of battlefield-relevant technology. The move, which also helps expand Taiwan's defense-industrial base, has seen the island sell well over 100,000 drones to Ukraine since last year alone, mainly via Poland and the Czech Republic, according to data provided by the Taipei-based Research Institute for Democracy, Society and Emerging Technology (DSET). In a time of both misinformation and too much information, quality journalism is more crucial than ever. By subscribing, you can help us get the story right.