An attack drone boat being developed by the Chungshan Institute of Science and Technology (CSIST) would likely enter combat evaluation next month, a source familiar with the matter said on Thursday.
If it passes its evaluation, the uncrewed surface vehicle (USV) would be demonstrated to the military during a precision live-fire missile drill at Jiupeng Base in Pingtung County in August, according to the source, who spoke on condition of anonymity.
The planned demonstration is to simulate a battlefield scenario where the CSIST drone boat engages surface targets, the source said.
Photo courtesy of Thunder Tiger
Although appearing similar to USVs being produced by private manufacturers, the “Kuai Chi” attack drone boat’s internal guidance and control systems, as well as other core technologies, are developed and produced entirely in-house by the CSIST, it added.
It is completely different from other commercial drone boats currently available on the market, the source said.
According to Sun Chun-ching (孫春青), an official of the Systems Development Center at the CSIST, several USVs developed by four different companies would be unveiled during a showcase scheduled for next month.
As to whether the event would also include the CSIST vessel, Sun told reporters during a Ministry of National Defense news briefing on Wednesday that the Kuai Chi is a research and development project undergoing related evaluations.
Due to the sensitive nature of the project, it would not be unveiled on this occasion, he said, adding that if its evaluations are successfully completed, it could be introduced to the public during the Taipei Aerospace and Defense Technology Exhibition in September.
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