25 U.S. Defense Contractors to Visit Taiwan Next Week for Industry Forum
- April 28, 2023
- Posted by: Quatro Strategies
- Category: Defense
Representatives from 25 U.S. defense contractors are set to visit Taiwan next Tuesday to attend the Taiwan-U.S. Defense Industry Forum and meet with local officials. The delegation will both attend the half-day industry forum and visit the Ministry of National Defense and the island’s top military research unit, the National Chungshan Institute of Science and Technology.
Among the 25 visiting companies are AeroVironment, the maker of Switchblade 300 loitering munition, commonly known as a “suicide drone,” which has been used to great effect by Ukraine against the Russian invaders.
The Virginia-based company’s representatives are expected to exchange views with officials at the research institute, which has been making its own version of the loitering munition.
The institute’s loitering munition is set to begin operational trials in July and enter mass production next year.
The institute announced earlier this year that it was working closely with the private sector to develop unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) for military use in the hope of building a “UAV fleet” next year.
Attendees are expected to discuss planned joint projects that can help support Taiwan’s national security needs in the face of geopolitical risk.
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