Taiwan and US Firm Kratos Join Hands to Build Attack Drones Amid Rising China Tensions

Post by : Saif

Taiwan has taken a new step to strengthen its defense capability by working with U.S.-based company Kratos Defense to develop and test a new jet-powered attack drone. The project is designed to help Taiwan quickly build large numbers of low-cost unmanned aircraft that can be used in wartime. The move comes as military pressure from China around Taiwan continues to rise.

According to official statements, engineers from Kratos and Taiwan’s main military research body worked together to test the new system at a facility in Oklahoma City. During the tests, they successfully integrated a Taiwanese mission payload — which includes guidance and strike systems — onto the Kratos Mighty Hornet IV attack drone. Both sides described the test as an important technical milestone.

The Mighty Hornet IV is designed to act like a low-cost cruise missile-style drone. It is jet-powered, fast, and built to be cheaper than many traditional missiles or aircraft. The goal is to produce these drones in large numbers so they can be deployed quickly if needed. Defense planners believe that having many smaller, cheaper strike systems can make it harder for an enemy to plan and carry out an attack.

Taiwan’s National Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology, which leads many of the island’s defense research programs, called the project a major step forward in U.S.–Taiwan defense technology cooperation. Officials said joint development helps shorten build time and gives Taiwan faster access to modern weapons tools. They also said such systems support rapid countermeasures and possible long-range preemptive strike ability if the island faces a direct threat.

This cooperation reflects a broader shift in Taiwan’s defense planning. Instead of depending only on a small number of very expensive platforms, Taiwan is now focusing more on distributed and affordable systems — especially drones. Military experts often call this a “many and small” strategy. The idea is simple: when weapons are cheaper and more numerous, they are harder to destroy and easier to replace.

China considers Taiwan part of its territory, while Taiwan operates as a self-governing democracy. Beijing has increased military activity near the island over the past few years. Chinese warplanes and naval vessels now operate near Taiwan almost daily. Taiwan describes many of these actions as “grey zone” tactics — pressure that stops short of open war but keeps tension high.

Taiwan’s defense officials recently reported that the number of Chinese military aircraft detected near the island rose sharply over the past year, including fighters and drones. China has also carried out large military exercises around Taiwan, including war games close to its air and sea space. These actions are widely seen as signals of pressure and warning.

In response, Taiwan has been looking for faster and more flexible ways to strengthen its defenses. Drones have become central to modern warfare planning after recent conflicts showed how effective unmanned systems can be for surveillance and attack. They are cheaper than manned aircraft, reduce risk to pilots, and can be used in large swarms to overwhelm defenses.

For the United States, defense cooperation with Taiwan is both strategic and sensitive. Washington does not officially recognize Taiwan as a separate country but provides defensive support under long-standing laws and policies. Joint technology projects like this one show deeper practical cooperation, even when formal diplomatic ties remain limited.

Kratos Defense is known for building unmanned systems and target drones used for military testing and combat training. In recent years, the company has expanded into low-cost combat drone platforms designed for real battlefield use. Its approach focuses on affordability and rapid production, which fits Taiwan’s current defense needs.

The plan, according to company statements, is not just to test a few units but to build a large quantity over time. Having a stock of ready-to-use attack drones could serve two purposes — deterrence and defense. Deterrence means convincing an opponent that any attack would be costly and difficult. Defense means having tools ready if deterrence fails.

However, projects like this can also increase regional tension. China strongly opposes military cooperation between the United States and Taiwan. Each new defense partnership or weapons program often brings criticism from Beijing. This creates a difficult balance between preparation and provocation.

From an editorial point of view, the growing use of low-cost drones marks a major change in how smaller powers plan their defense. Technology is lowering the cost of precision strike capability. That gives countries like Taiwan more options but also raises new risks if arms development moves faster than diplomacy.

Security experts often say that stronger defense can prevent war by raising the cost of aggression. At the same time, they warn that military build-ups without communication channels can lead to miscalculation. That is why defense readiness and diplomatic dialogue usually need to move together.

Taiwan’s drone partnership with Kratos shows how modern defense strategy is changing — faster systems, lower costs, and closer tech cooperation. Whether it brings greater stability or deeper rivalry will depend on how all sides manage the next steps.

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