US firm to make battle-tested drones in Taiwan, boosting supply chain resilience

The collaboration between Aevex Aerospace and CIRC aims to integrate battle-tested drone technology with Taiwan's electronics and manufacturing capabilities. Both the Vandal and Onyx drones have undergone combat testing in Ukraine, with their development shaped by the intensive electronic warfare encountered there. A key feature is their ability to operate effectively when satellite navigation is degraded or unavailable, using Aevex's CompassX navigation architecture and computer vision.

Beyond their operational capabilities, the local production model itself offers a significant advantage for Taiwan. The use of 3D printing, specifically Aevex's ForgeX 3D printer, allows for rapid manufacturing of replacement drones and quick modifications in response to battlefield requirements. This production method could reduce Taiwan's reliance on overseas resupply during a conflict, enhancing supply chain resilience.

Former Taiwanese defence ministry press secretary Lu De-yun suggests that containerized 3D-printing facilities could be moved to disperse production, supporting a 'high-low' force mix. This approach could enable the rapid production of thousands of drones, which would be critical if supply routes were disrupted. CIRC's role includes developing and supplying flight-control systems, edge computing, and payloads, with motors and batteries also sourced locally.