The Chungshan Institute of Science and Technology is developing an uncrewed underwater vehicle (UUV) as a technology test bed for submarine systems, a high-level defense official said on Saturday.
The NT$3.6 billion (US$128.2 million) Hui Long Project, which began in 2019, is to produce a small to medium-sized vehicle to test sonar technology, and related surveillance and observation systems, the official said on condition of anonymity.
The program is part of the state-funded institute’s effort to build several test vessels — crewed and uncrewed — to test various systems coming out of the indigenous defense submarine program and other projects, the person said.
A UUV would be crucial in reducing the indigenous submarine program’s reliance on foreign governments to export sonar systems, torpedoes and other “red zone” components, the official said.
The program’s first phase is expected to be completed in 2024, the person said, without elaborating.
The indigenous submarine program “has a long road to travel” and the nation cannot afford to assume that allies will remain willing to transfer required technologies, the official said.
Other naval test platforms include the amphibious command ship ROCS Kaohsiung and the institute’s Glory Star, a test bed for large weapon systems and surface ship equipment, the person said.
The Hui Long Project would not qualify as a submarine, as it is being designed as a test platform and not to conduct undersurface warfare, the official said.
However, the program’s technologies could potentially be used for reconnaissance or attack UUVs to support a submarine fleet, the person said.
The combination of crewed submarines and UUVs would bolster the navy’s ability to fight Chinese People’s Liberation Navy submarines, the official said.
Taipei has once again made it to the top 100 in Oxford Economics’ Global Cities Index 2025 report, moving up five places from last year to 60. The annual index, which was published last month, evaluated 1,000 of the most populated metropolises based on five indices — economics, human capital, quality of life, environment and governance. New York maintained its top spot this year, placing first in the economics index thanks to the strength of its vibrant financial industry and economic stability. Taipei ranked 263rd in economics, 44th in human capital, 15th in quality of life, 284th for environment and 75th in governance,
The Sports Administration yesterday demanded an apology from the national table tennis association for barring 17-year-old Yeh Yi-tian (葉伊恬) from competing in the upcoming World Table Tennis (WTT) United States Smash tournament in Las Vegas this July. The sports agency said in a statement that the Chinese Taipei Table Tennis Association (CTTTA) must explain to the public why it withdrew Yeh from the WTT tournament in Las Vegas. The sports agency said it contacted the association to express its disapproval of the decision-making process after receiving a complaint from Yeh’s coach, Chuang
Control Yuan Secretary-General Lee Chun-yi (李俊俋) tendered his resignation last night, admitting that he had misused a government vehicle, as reported by media. His resignation was immediately accepted by the Control Yuan. In a statement explaining why he had resigned, Lee apologized for using a Control Yuan vehicle to transport his dog to a pet grooming salon on May 20. The issue first came to light late last month, when TVBS News reported that Lee had instructed his driver to take the dog to the salon. The news channel broadcast photos that it said were taken by an unnamed whistle-blower, which purportedly showed the
A former officer in China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA) who witnessed the aftermath of the 1989 Tiananmen Square massacre has warned that Taiwan could face a similar fate if China attempts to unify the country by force. Li Xiaoming (李曉明), who was deployed to Beijing as a junior officer during the crackdown, said Taiwanese people should study the massacre carefully, because it offers a glimpse of what Beijing is willing to do to suppress dissent. “What happened in Tiananmen Square could happen in Taiwan too,” Li told CNA in a May 22 interview, ahead of the massacre’s 36th anniversary. “If Taiwanese students or
RSS