Taiwan Deploys Homegrown Strike Drones During Han Kuang Exercise

The Taiwan navy deployed two locally produced medium-class strike drones during the Han Kuang exercise, the island's largest annual military rehearsal simulating a defense against a Chinese invasion. The fixed-wing, propeller-driven munitions, described by military officials as "medium-size suicide drones," were utilized during a littoral combat drill simulating an attack on Zuoying.

Designed by the National Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology and provided for testing by the Armaments Bureau, these drones resemble the loitering munitions used by Ukraine to disrupt Russian supply lines. The deployment is a component of Taiwan's "hellscape" strategy, which aims to hamper People's Liberation Army forces by flooding the Taiwan Strait with thousands of aerial, surface, and underwater drones. The government intends to produce 100,000 drones monthly by 2030.

President Lai Ching-te attended the drills, which also featured the participation of missile boats and naval special forces.