Taiwan is rapidly advancing its naval drone (USV) capabilities, drawing inspiration from Ukraine’s “unprecedented success” using similar uncrewed surface vessels in the Black Sea to disrupt Russian naval operations, a report released yesterday by international media outlet Naval News said.
The new fleet of USVs has been designed to disrupt and weaken a possible Chinese invasion by targeting landing craft, disrupting supply lines and exposing enemy ships to missile strikes, it said.
Photo: Naval News
Four new drones are being developed with support from National Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology and private industry, with at least 12 firms involved in recent trials as the pace has “visibly quickened,” it said.
Analysts have said that Taiwan’s USV developments could significantly increase the cost and complexity required for China to invade, which could “add to the uncertainty for Beijing’s military planners... [and] increase Beijing’s risk calculus,” it added.
“Few individual weapons are war winning, and the threat from mainland China (PRC) is nuanced, but these could make a difference,” the report said.
The first wave of war-fighting designs was demonstrated in June, it said.
The Kuaiqi most closely matches the Ukrainian design as a low-profile vessel that can travel at a fast speed of 43 knots and is armed with loitering munitions and explosive bow charges, it said.
The Endeavour Manta, a “more futuristic” design, is a trimaran with satellite communications, radar-absorbing materials and optional crew capability, while the Sea Shark 800 is a heavily-armored motorboat evolved from the earlier Sea Shark 400 model, it added.
Meanwhile, the nine-meter long Piranha 9 has a radar-absorbent hull, a drone hangar and is powered by twin inboard motors driving water jets, it said.
Three Taiwanese airlines have prohibited passengers from packing Bluetooth earbuds and their charger cases in checked luggage. EVA Air and Uni Air said that Bluetooth earbuds and charger cases are categorized as portable electronic devices, which should be switched off if they are placed in checked luggage based on international aviation safety regulations. They must not be in standby or sleep mode. However, as charging would continue when earbuds are placed in the charger cases, which would contravene international aviation regulations, their cases must be carried as hand luggage, they said. Tigerair Taiwan said that earbud charger cases are equipped
Foreign travelers entering Taiwan on a short layover via Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport are receiving NT$600 gift vouchers from yesterday, the Tourism Administration said, adding that it hopes the incentive would boost tourism consumption at the airport. The program, which allows travelers holding non-Taiwan passports who enter the country during a layover of up to 24 hours to claim a voucher, aims to promote attractions at the airport, the agency said in a statement on Friday. To participate, travelers must sign up on the campaign Web site, the agency said. They can then present their passport and boarding pass for their connecting international
Temperatures in northern Taiwan are forecast to reach as high as 30°C today, as an ongoing northeasterly seasonal wind system weakens, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said. CWA forecaster Tseng Chao-cheng (曾昭誠) said yesterday that with the seasonal wind system weakening, warmer easterly winds would boost the temperature today. Daytime temperatures in northern Taiwan and Yilan County are expected to range from 28°C to 30°C today, up about 3°C from yesterday, Tseng said. According to the CWA, temperature highs in central and southern Taiwan could stay stable. However, the weather is expected to turn cooler starting tonight as the northeasterly wind system strengthens again
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