Taiwan considers drone swarms as defense measure against Beijing

Summary

Taiwan is exploring the use of drone swarms as a defense strategy in response to increased grey-zone operations from Beijing, which have included various forms of military and civilian pressure. To support this initiative, Taiwan's Ocean Affairs Council is funding research at National Cheng Kung University focused on the coordination of autonomous multi-drone systems for maritime surveillance and Coast Guard operations. Initial tests have utilized simulations with two fleets consisting of 20 aircraft, integrating AI mission planning and swarm-control technologies, and planned platforms for this project include U.S.-made drones like the JUMP 20 and Flexrotor.

Analysis