[International] Drone Technology Trends Towards Lower Costs, Scholars Urge Taiwan to Deepen European Cooperation
bellala 央廣6h ago
The European International Defence Exhibition recently opened in Paris, France, attracting participants from Taiwan's industry, government, and academia. Scholars stated that the Russia-Ukraine war and Middle East conflicts demonstrate that drones have become key equipment in modern warfare, with military industry development moving towards miniaturization and lower costs. Facing changes in the international situation, Taiwan should seize the opportunity to deepen cooperation with the European defense industry.
The biennial European International Defence Exhibition (Eurosatory) was held from June 15th to 19th in Paris, France, showcasing the latest defense technology developments. Shu Xiao-huang, an associate research fellow at the National Defense Security Research Institute, who attended the exhibition, told CNA in an interview that the Russia-Ukraine war and recent Middle East conflicts show that drones are increasingly common in battlefield applications, and corresponding counter-technology is also rapidly developing.
He pointed out that low-cost anti-drone systems are currently receiving high attention, including interceptor drones manufactured using 3D printing technology and powered by motors, which can pursue and intercept enemy drones at a lower cost, such as the Iranian-made "Shahed-136" attack drone.
Shu Xiao-huang stated that this year's exhibition also featured many exhibitors integrating traditional anti-aircraft artillery with radar systems to develop new anti-drone equipment. Other companies integrated drone systems onto armored vehicles for tasks such as interception, reconnaissance, and electronic jamming, demonstrating the "Multi-Domain Operations" concept emphasized by the US military and NATO in recent years.
He believes that the development of next-generation weapons is urgent, requiring not only continuous innovation in equipment but also the ability for rapid adaptation and flexible application.
Shu Xiao-huang said that one of the biggest lessons from the Russia-Ukraine battlefield is the importance of rapid response capabilities. "In fact, on the Russia-Ukraine battlefield, you must quickly respond to changes in the situation. If you cannot react quickly, you will definitely be the losing side on that battlefield."
Hsu Chih-hsiang, an assistant research fellow at the Institute of Political Warfare and Strategic Concepts of the People's Republic of China at the National Defense Security Research Institute, pointed out that Taiwan's military equipment system has long been highly dependent on the United States. While a relatively mature exchange platform has been established for military procurement, industrial capabilities, and communication of needs, interactions with European countries remain relatively limited.
Hsu Chih-hsiang stated that in recent years, Europe has actively promoted reducing reliance on China's supply chains and establishing "non-red supply chains," which presents a favorable opportunity for Taiwan. At the same time, against the backdrop of rising geopolitical risks, Europe is accelerating the integration of defense industry resources, including Germany and France strengthening cooperation with Eastern European countries. Taiwan can seek more exchange and cooperation opportunities through this.
On the other hand, Peng Xue-zhen, founder of the newly established Taiwan-Europe AI Defense Technology Association, said that many small and medium-sized technology companies in Taiwan are limited by their production capacity, making it difficult to establish direct cooperative relationships with large international defense companies.
She believes that the government can reserve more flexibility in system design, reduce unnecessary restrictions to promote international exchange and cooperation, and simultaneously promote Taiwan's software industry to establish partnerships with overseas companies, thereby enhancing Taiwan's visibility and competitiveness in the global defense technology supply chain.
The European International Defence Exhibition is one of the world's largest defense and security industry exhibitions. This year, it attracted over 2,600 exhibitors, including 10 Taiwanese companies, covering areas such as drones, anti-drone systems, and defense technology. CUBIC, a company that previously won a contract for the Taiwanese military's counter-drone system, also participated in the exhibition. (Editor: Liu Xiang-hua)
Source Link: https://www.rti.org.tw/news?uid=3&pid=215634
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