Taiwan has formalized a strategic partnership with U.S.-German tech firm Auterion to integrate combat-tested drone software—originally employed by Ukraine—into its defense systems. The move, announced June 17, greatly enhances Taipei’s drone capabilities amid ongoing military pressure from Beijing .
Under the agreement, Taiwan’s National Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology (NCSIST), the defense ministry’s R&D arm, will license Auterion’s software for use in large-scale autonomous drone swarms, both aerial and naval. Auterion CEO Lorenz Meier highlighted the software’s battlefield performance during Ukraine’s conflict with Russia: “What we’re bringing to the table has been combat‑proven in Ukraine to deter aggression and destroy tanks, naval assets, and other really expensive equipment,” he told Reuters at a maritime drone expo in Suao.
Meier added the collaboration is designed for the long haul, projecting that “millions of drones” will be deployed in Taiwan over several years, representing a potential investment of hundreds of millions of dollars.
