About DSET Drone Newsletter:

DSET’s National Security Group publishes a biweekly drone newsletter. It reviews a curated selection of the most noteworthy domestic and international sources, providing insights into the development of Taiwan’s drone industry and the implications of global uncrewed aerial vehicle (UAV) trends for Taiwan.

This Issue’s Drone Highlights:

  1. The sixth Taiwan–U.S. EPPD established ITRI as the sole Green UAS certification hub outside the United States to bolster drone supply chain security. Since Green UAS certification now streamlines the path to Blue UAS status, this partnership creates a critical gateway for Taiwanese firms to access U.S. DoW procurement.
  2. Taiwan aims to establish a fully “non-red” UAS supply chain by 2027 through newly issued procurement guidelines that introduce a four-tier compliance framework to ensure sourcing integrity. This initiative prioritizes operational autonomy and peacetime-to-wartime transition readiness, strategically positioning the “Made in Taiwan” brand for entry into the global defense market.
  3. Taiwan’s opposition blocked the Executive Yuan’s defense bill for the ninth time, instead advancing a TPP version that slashes the budget to NT$400 billion. By excluding most indigenous drone programs, the proposal has drawn criticism from the Ministry of National Defense and concern from bipartisan U.S. senators.
  4. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky publicly raised concerns that components produced in countries including Taiwan have been found in Russian weapons systems. In response, President Lai Ching-te stated that Taiwan is willing to engage in dialogue with Ukraine to curb illegal transshipment and strengthen export controls on high-tech products.The European Parliament subsequently adopted a resolution calling for deeper cooperation with Taiwan in drone technology and for the establishment of secure, “non-red” supply chains grounded in democratic values. Although the resolution is non-binding, it is widely viewed as a strategic signal to the European Commission. Notably, Taiwan was not included in earlier drone policy documents issued by the Commission, making its forthcoming position worthy of close observation.

(Read the full newsletter on DSET’s website here.)

Taiwan–U.S. EPPD Strengthens Drone Cooperation, with Taiwan Becoming the Only Green UAS Certification Hub Outside the United States

(Author: Chih-Cheng Sung)


The sixth Taiwan–U.S. Economic Prosperity Partnership Dialogue (EPPD) concluded on January 27. During the dialogue, the two sides reached consensus across seven key areas, including drones, AI supply chains, and third-country cooperation, and signed both the Pax Silica Declaration and the U.S.-Taiwan Economic Security Cooperation.

President Lai Ching-te stated that future Taiwan–U.S. cooperation will focus on three strategic pillars: strengthening economic security, building an innovation-driven economy, and fostering shared prosperity. On drone cooperation, Taiwan’s Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA) noted that both sides will leverage drone certification mechanisms to facilitate market access and commercial development, while jointly building a non-China supply chain for Taiwan–U.S. drone collaboration.

On implementation, Taiwan’s Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI) has signed a Green UAS authorization, assessment, and services agreement with the Association for Uncrewed Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI). This cooperation is expected to support the integration of Taiwan’s drone industry into internationally recognized certification frameworks.

U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Jacob Helberg further noted that this cooperation will position Taiwan as the only certification hub outside the United States, ensuring that Taiwan-made uncrewed systems meet the highest security standards.

According to AUVSI’s press release, under the Green UAS framework, supply-chain vetting and compliance determinations related to the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) will continue to be owned and executed by AUVSI in the United States. ITRI’s role will focus on cybersecurity testing and technical evaluation, ensuring a clear division of responsibilities between supply-chain trust determinations and in-country technical assessments.

Through this partnership, AUVSI and ITRI will be able to provide localized testing and evaluation services in Taiwan, helping to reduce the time and cost required for companies to obtain certification.

Given that Green UAS certification is now directly recognized as qualifying for Blue UAS status—and thereby meets the threshold for inclusion in the U.S. Department of Defense procurement system—obtaining Green UAS certification, and subsequently Blue UAS status, is expected to become a key pathway for firms seeking entry into U.S. defense procurement under the FCC’s latest regulatory restrictions.Taiwanese company Thunder Tiger announced in September last year that it had secured Blue UAS certification, becoming the first Taiwanese firm to be included on the list. Going forward, the availability of certification procedures within Taiwan is likely to further facilitate Taiwanese firms’ access to the U.S. procurement market.

Executive Yuan Announces 2027 Target and New Tiered “Non-Red” Procurement Framework for Drones

(Author: Cathy Fang)

At the January Project Meeting on the Development and Governance Mechanisms of the Uncrewed Systems Industry, Vice Premier Cheng Li-chiun established a policy objective of achieving a fully “non-red” (non-PRC) UAS supply chain by 2027. In parallel, Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim emphasized the goal of progressively realizing comprehensive domestic manufacturing, strengthening the MIT (Made in Taiwan) brand, and positioning Taiwan’s UAV industry for entry into global markets.

On January 7, the Public Construction Commission (PCC) of the Executive Yuan issued the Guidelines for the Procurement of Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems. Formulated in coordination with the National Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology (NCSIST), the National Science and Technology Council (NSTC), the Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI), and other relevant institutions, the guidelines will be updated semiannually and prioritize operational autonomy, system resilience, and non-PRC supply-chain integrity.

The policy significance is twofold. First, it marks the first application of a tiered compliance framework in Taiwan’s UAV procurement system, codifying four sourcing-integrity levels (A–D) assessed across manufacturer, brand, and country-of-origin criteria, ranging from Taiwan-exclusive sourcing to non-PRC sourcing. Second, the guidelines explicitly incorporate peacetime-to-wartime transition considerations, suggesting that procured UAV systems should be capable of maintaining operational readiness for potential contingency scenarios.

Deadlock Over Defense Special Act Curtails Drone Procurement and Non-China Supply Chain Efforts

(Author: Chih-Cheng Sung)

Taiwan’s Legislative Yuan concluded its fourth session on January 30. On the final day of the session, opposition parties for the ninth time jointly blocked the Executive Yuan’s proposed Special Act on National Defense from being referred for committee review, and instead advanced the version proposed by the Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) for consideration.

According to the TPP’s draft bill, the legislative purpose of “building a non-red supply chain,” as stipulated in the Executive Yuan’s version, was removed, and the upper limit of the budget was sharply reduced from NT$1.25 trillion to NT$400 billion. With respect to unmanned systems, the TPP version retains only the procurement of anti-armor drones, while excluding other previously prioritized items, including the planned procurement of 200,000 domestically produced drones of various types, 1,000 unmanned surface vessels, and related counter-UAS systems.

In response, Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense stated that the TPP version is incomplete and lacks professional assessment. Bipartisan U.S. senators from both the Republican and Democratic parties have also expressed concern, arguing that Taiwan should reconsider such substantial budget reductions. The fifth session of the Legislative Yuan is scheduled to convene on February 24, and subsequent developments warrant close attention.

Ukraine Catalyzes Taiwan to Close the Loophole in its Drone Ambitions

(Author: Samara Duerr)

At the World Economic Forum (WEF) held in January, Ukrainian President Zelensky stated that Russia’s continued weapons production relies on “critical components sourced from China, Europe, the United States, and Taiwan.” In response, President Lai Ching-te expressed Taiwan’s willingness to engage in further dialogue with Ukraine and the broader international community to strengthen controls against violations of international sanctions and the concealment of ultimate end use.

According to the Taiwan government, since 2022 Taiwan has imposed strict export controls on high-tech products destined for Russia, particularly microelectronic components used in navigation and power regulation systems. The sanctions list has been updated six times, restricting approximately 3,300 Russian entities. Nevertheless, Taiwan currently lacks sufficient visibility and effective mechanisms to prevent critical components from reaching Russia through illegal transshipment and illicit intermediaries.

Based on DSET’s review of relevant Ukrainian investigative reports, the electronic components identified are dual-use items supplied to manufacturers worldwide and later integrated into drone platforms in third countries before ultimately reaching Russia. Effective oversight of such components therefore remains challenging and will require strengthened intelligence-sharing and supply-chain coordination between Taiwan and its partners.

European Parliament Names Taiwan in Drone Cooperation Push

(Author: Ting-Wei Lin)

On January 22, 2026, the European Parliament adopted a resolution on “drones and new systems of warfare,” urging the EU to deepen drone cooperation with trusted partners, including Taiwan. In its Indo-Pacific section, Parliament explicitly names Taiwan: “calls for enhancing security and defence cooperation and partnership with the EU’s Indo-Pacific partners, including Taiwan, particularly in drone technology and relevant industries; stresses the importance of building secure, non-red supply chains underpinned by democratic values.”

While Parliament’s resolutions are non-binding, they can still shape the EU agenda, especially when they spotlight priorities that may later appear in Commission proposals or budget choices. Most EU laws start with a Commission proposal and are then negotiated and adopted jointly by Parliament and the European Council. Parliament can also press the Commission through requests for proposals and own-initiative reports like this, even though the Commission is not legally required to follow them and may respond by explaining why it will (or won’t) act. 

As previously observed in DSET’s analyses, the European Commission’s 2025 drone cooperation initiative primarily emphasized the procurement of domestically produced European drones. While the plan referenced cooperation with Indo-Pacific partners, it identified India and Japan as principal counterparts and did not mention Taiwan. Whether the European Parliament’s new resolution will further influence the Commission’s position warrants close attention.

The information above is current as of February 11, 2026 (Taipei time).

Author Biographies

Chih-Cheng Sung

Chih-Cheng Sung currently serves as a Senior Analyst at DSET, specializing in public relations and policy analysis. He previously served as Chief of Staff in a legislative caucus office at the Legislative Yuan, where he was responsible for policy research and legislative strategy. With in-depth knowledge of parliamentary operations and the policymaking process, he brings extensive experience in policy coordination and advocacy. Mr. Sung holds a Master’s degree in Political Science from National Chengchi University.

Cathy Fang

Cathy Fang serves as a Policy Analyst in the National Security and Economic Security Research Program at DSET, where she specializes in analyzing the convergence of technology and geopolitical dynamics. Her research portfolio encompasses critical technological domains, with particular emphasis on the semiconductor industry and the strategic implications of emerging technologies including unmanned aerial vehicles, satellite systems, and subsea telecommunications infrastructure. Currently, she contributes as an editor and podcast host at US-Taiwan Watch. Prior to her role at DSET, she held the position of policy analyst at the Project 2049 Institute. Her professional background includes tenure as a legislative assistant at Taiwan’s Legislative Yuan and research experience at the Institute of International Relations, National Chengchi University (NCCU). She holds an M.A. in Asian Studies and International Security from the Elliott School of International Affairs at George Washington University, and a B.A. in Political Science from National Chengchi University.

Samara Duerr

Samara Duerr serves as a policy analyst for the National Security and Dual-use Technology (NSDT) taskforce at DSET. Samara earned a Master’s degree in Asia Pacific Studies at National Chengchi University in Taiwan, a Bachelor’s degree in International Relations and Chinese Studies at Emory University in the US, and has also studied at Yonsei University in Seoul and the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) in London. Her research focuses on dual use technology in relation to Taiwan-US and Taiwan-EU cooperation. With an emphasis on techno-geopolitics, her work specializes in the drone supply chain, emerging technology, and US-Taiwan relations.

Ting-Wei Lin

Ting-Wei Lin is a journalist and researcher, serving as a Non-Resident Fellow at DSET’s National Security Program. Her research focuses on defense technology and supply chain resilience. Lin specializes in the intersection of technology and geopolitics, cross-strait relations, and Taiwan’s public policy. Her work has appeared in Agence France-Presse, Initium Media, The Reporter, and other publications. She holds a B.A. in Anthropology from National Taiwan University.