Taiwan to equip close-range spy drones with ammunition system, report says
- Island’s military asked manufacturer to give the helicopter-like drones combat capabilities, according to CNA
- Testing is also under way on armoured vehicle prototypes and should be finished by October, defence ministry says
It has already received 32 units, with the rest due for delivery in the last quarter of the year.
01:49
Taiwan unveils a home-grown ‘kamikaze’ portable attack drone
The military recently asked the manufacturer to equip the helicopter-like drones with combat capabilities, the government-funded Central News Agency reported on Sunday.
The drones were originally designed for battlefield reconnaissance and surveillance missions.
“The institute is in the process of customising the drones, with some of them being fitted with the laser target system and others with the ammunition system,” CNA quoted an unnamed military source as saying.
The source said the laser system would enable operators to accurately lock onto targets and transmit the coordinates back to an army base.
A drone with the ammunition system would be able to respond to unexpected attacks while on a reconnaissance mission by dropping up to eight rounds of 60mm mortars, according to the source.