DSET has published two new research reports — Drone Superpower: Ukraine’s UAV Success and Where Taiwan-Ukraine Cooperation Fits In and The Invisible Drone Wall: Taiwan’s Quiet Support for a China-Free European Drone Supply Chain both of which have been featured in Nikkei Asia.
Citing DSET’s findings, Nikkei Asia reported that Taiwan’s finished drone exports to Europe grew from 2,574 units in 2024 to 107,433 units in 2025, a more than fortyfold increase driven by wartime demand. Exports in the first quarter of 2026 alone reached 136,010 units, already surpassing the full-year 2025 total. Taiwan’s drone shipments to Europe are concentrated primarily in Poland and the Czech Republic, which serve as key transit points for equipment destined for Ukraine.
DSET Policy Analyst Samara Duerr noted that many drones exported to Central and Eastern Europe are procured by Ukrainian civilian organizations before being transferred to Ukraine. Taiwan-manufactured components — including batteries, motors, flight control systems, and airframes — are also flowing to local manufacturers in the region, reflecting the gradual emergence of a “non-China” supply chain spanning both finished units and parts.
DSET Non-Resident Fellow Lin Ting-Wei emphasized the importance of establishing a drone certification framework between the EU and Taiwan. She noted that the EU has yet to develop a unified standard comparable to the U.S. Blue UAS standard, complicating compliance for Taiwanese exporters. “A harmonized ‘China-free’ certification standard across EU member states would help Taiwanese firms meet requirements more easily,” Lin said.
DSET’s reports also identify structural challenges facing Taiwan’s drone sector, including limited production capacity, reliance on foreign technology, and dependence on Chinese-sourced materials for certain components.
On policy, DSET recommends that Taiwan deepen cooperation with Ukraine on interceptor and long-range strike drones, shift toward a cost-effective component supply model with faster delivery, and establish battlefield feedback mechanisms and joint training. For Europe, DSET recommends building a trusted procurement platform that provides traceability, documentation verification, and supplier certification for vetted drone components.
Both reports were launched at a public event on April 23, moderated by DSET Policy Analyst Cathy Fang. The panel featured Max Lo, President of the Taiwan National Drone Industry Association, and Mick Ryan, retired Australian major general and Senior Fellow for Military Studies at the Lowy Institute, as discussants. Nearly 100 participants attended, including representatives from foreign missions, international media, and industry.
