Taiwan Partners with US Startup on Underwater Drones to Counter Chinese Military Pressure

Modular Autonomous Underwater Vehicle from US-based Anduril Industries Expected to be Delivered by the End of this Month

China - Taiwan (PG) [Yonhap News] To counter increasing military pressure from China, Taiwan is pushing to introduce and deploy autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) in partnership with U.S. defense startups.

According to the South China Morning Post (SCMP) on the 18th, the National Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology (NCSIST), Taiwan's state-run defense research agency, recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with U.S. defense startup Burton Systems to collaborate on AUV deployment and the development of AI-based command and control systems.

AUVs are unmanned underwater vehicles that perform pre-programmed missions autonomously without human remote control, commonly referred to as "underwater drones."

Both sides have agreed to jointly explore operational plans for AUVs in Taiwan while cooperating on the establishment of local supply chains and maintenance support systems.

NCSIST stated that through this collaboration, it aims to combine foreign technology with Taiwan's industrial and research capabilities to drive AUV development and system integration, ultimately strengthening its underwater surveillance and maritime defense capabilities.

Burton Systems specializes in developing low-cost autonomous underwater systems that can be configured with varying ranges, sensors, and precision levels depending on the mission. Burton added that the collaboration includes plans to deploy its mid-sized AUV, the 'S12'.

The SCMP reported that Nelson Mills, co-founder and CEO of Burton Systems, referred to Taiwan as an "ally," stating, "We will explore how our technology can support the modernization of the Taiwanese Navy."

In preparation for potential cross-strait conflict, Taiwan has been expanding the development and acquisition of unmanned underwater systems for surveillance, reconnaissance, seabed mapping, mine countermeasures, and the protection of critical infrastructure.

NCSIST also plans to collaborate with the U.S. defense technology firm Anduril Industries to acquire the 'Dive-LD,' a 5.8-meter modular AUV. The Dive-LD can operate at depths of up to 6,000 meters and remain submerged for approximately 10 days at low speeds.

According to the SCMP, Anduril has already provided training equipment to NCSIST, and the Dive-LD is scheduled for delivery by the end of this month.

NCSIST is pursuing a "two-track" strategy: acquiring advanced foreign equipment to master new technologies, while simultaneously collaborating with major Taiwanese universities and companies to domesticate core sensor production.

Having previously secured independent unmanned underwater vehicle (UUV) technology through its 'Hui-Long' project—which produced a 30-meter, 100-ton prototype underwater drone—Taiwan plans to build upon this foundation by expanding its system integration partnerships with U.S. firms.