The National Day Preparatory Committee yesterday said that the original plans for an early morning rehearsal of air force units involved in the Double Ten National Day parade tomorrow had been canceled due to Typhoon Krathon.
The committee said it would assess whether a rehearsal of the event would be feasible on Tuesday next week.
The Double Ten National Day parade is expected to feature UH-60M Black Hawk and CH-47SD Chinook helicopters, as well as flybys of the Brave Eagle Advanced Jet Trainer and AT-3 Thunder Tigers.
Photo courtesy of the National Day Preparatory Committee
Separately, the Ministry of National Defense yesterday said that the Chungshan Institute of Science and Technology is exploring all possible venues to join the international supply chain for uncrewed aerial vehicles (UAVs) and drones.
The comments came after a source said that the US was “interested” in the institute-developed Chien Hsiang anti-radiation loitering munition and was considering collaborating with the institute.
Twenty-six US UAV and drone manufacturing companies visited Taiwan and met with their Taiwanese counterparts at a Taiwan Uncrewed Aircraft Systems and Counter-UAS Business Development Mission held at the American Institute in Taiwan in Taipei on Tuesday last week.
The source said the collaboration could see the institute manufacture components while the US sells the drones under its brand.
The ministry said that any possible opportunities to facilitate the institute’s collaboration with foreign companies or to have the institute become the primary provider of components should be explored.
The ministry said the institute was well positioned for US-Taiwan collaboration, especially as the US is pushing to cut China out of its supply chain.
Commenting on the US National Defense Industrial Strategy (NDIS) listing Taiwan as a member of the US’ “friend-shoring-suitable alliances and partnerships around the world,” the ministry said that it would continue to work with all partners to help maintain the peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait and the Indo-Pacific region.
The NDIS, the first of its kind, is to guide the US Department of Defense’s engagement, policy development and investment in the nation’s industrial base over the next three to five years.
Additional reporting by Chung Li-hua
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