US firm to make battle-tested drones in Taiwan, boosting supply chain resilience

Two combat-tested American drones could become part of Taiwan’s expanding unmanned arsenal as the island seeks to build a “drone shield” against the People’s Liberation Army.

California-based defence technology company Aevex Aerospace is working with Taiwan’s Coretronic Intelligent Robotics Corporation (CIRC) to produce its Vandal and Onyx drones locally, combining lessons drawn from the war in Ukraine with the island’s electronics and manufacturing capabilities.

Both aircraft have been tested under combat conditions in Ukraine, where intensive electronic warfare has helped shape their development, according to Aevex executives.

Vandal, the smaller of the two, is designed for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance missions, as well as electronic warfare and precision strikes.