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Latest / Defence and security

ProcurementDefenceTaiwan USConfirmed

Taiwan to buy 292 V-BAT drones from Shield AI for navy and coast guard

See how this story connects

Source: Taipei Times

Taiwan’s navy and coast guard are acquiring 292 MQ-35A V-BAT vertical takeoff and landing drones from US-based Shield AI. The coast guard budgeted NT$1.2 billion for 12 drones, which have been delivered. The navy plans to spend NT$36 billion over four years under Project Yuan Xiao to acquire 280 drones. Combined procurement is expected to cost NT$37.2 billion.

Why it matters

The Ministry of National Defense says Taiwan could become the largest operator of V-BAT drones outside the US once deliveries are complete. Of the navy’s planned drones, 212 are earmarked for the Coastal Combat Command and Hsiung Feng anti-ship missile units, to keep reconnaissance and precision-strike capability if their radars are destroyed.

When
18 Oct 2026
ID
WTA-N-2026-0320
Who
Shield AI, Taiwan Ministry of National Defense, Taiwan Navy, Taiwan Coast Guard Administration, Aerospace Industrial Development Corp; Brandon Tseng

Summary by wheresthe.ai, from Taipei Times. Checked against the source on 18 Oct 2026.

Read the original at Taipei Times

Source copy: download the page as saved on 18 Oct 2026 (PDF). Also held by the Internet Archive.

Cite this story

WTA-N-2026-0320: “Taiwan to buy 292 V-BAT drones from Shield AI for navy and coast guard.” wheresthe.ai, 18 Oct 2026. https://wheresthe.ai/d/tw-taiwan-to-buy-292-v-bat-drones-from-shield-ai-for-navy-an-2026-10/ (source: Taipei Times).

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