Taiwan’s military has signed a contract with U.S.-based defence technology company Shield AI to integrate autonomous software into its unmanned systems, in a move aimed at reinforcing the island’s defences against mounting pressure from China.
Shield AI described the agreement as an “important foundation” that could pave the way for wider adoption of autonomous technologies within Taiwan’s armed forces, particularly through collaboration with the National Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology (NCSIST), the island’s leading military research body.
AI Integration to ‘Multiply’ Combat Power
Under the agreement, NCSIST will incorporate Shield AI’s Hivemind platform into its drone systems. The Silicon Valley-based company said the technology would help “multiply” Taiwan’s combat power, addressing the island’s limited manpower.
“We are helping enable the drone forces Taiwan is building with cutting-edge AI pilots that will allow drones to team and operate while GPS and communications are jammed,” said Shield AI president and co-founder Brandon Tseng, a former U.S. Navy SEAL.
The Hivemind system enables autonomous aircraft to operate independently, even in contested environments where satellite navigation and communications systems are disrupted.
Asymmetric Warfare Focus
The partnership comes as Taiwan intensifies efforts to strengthen security ties with the United States, including through joint weapons development and manufacturing initiatives.
Facing increased military pressure from Beijing, which claims sovereignty over the democratically governed island, Taipei has prioritised an “asymmetric warfare” strategy. This approach focuses on acquiring lower-cost, highly mobile and unmanned systems designed to complicate and deter any potential Chinese military action.
Expanding drone capabilities has become a central pillar of that strategy, with Taiwan seeking to deploy larger numbers of intelligent, networked unmanned systems.
Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.
(with inputs from Reuters)
