Taiwan and US Deepen Drone Cooperation: MIRDC Signs MOU with Defense Tech Giant Anduril

The Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA) announced that to strengthen international cooperation in the domestic drone industry, the Metal Industries Research & Development Centre (MIRDC) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with US defense technology giant Anduril today (June 3). The two parties will focus on AI autonomous systems, key drone technology R&D and manufacturing optimization, promote the construction of a non-China supply chain, and expand international cooperation and market integration.

The MOEA held a signing ceremony for the Taiwan-US Drone Cooperation MOU today, with MIRDC Chairperson Liu Jia-ru and Anduril founder Palmer Luckey signing jointly, witnessed by Chiu Chiu-hui, Director-General of the Industrial Development Administration (IDA).

The IDA stated in a press release that the cooperation will cover key drone technology R&D and manufacturing, AI application technology development, supply chain integration, and localized production, aiming to enhance industrial competitiveness through joint R&D and technical exchanges.

The IDA noted that Anduril Industries is a representative US defense technology company, founded in 2017 by Palmer Luckey, who also founded the virtual reality device company Oculus VR. Anduril has long cooperated with the US Department of Defense, the Department of Homeland Security, and several allied governments, developing drones, autonomous combat systems, AI command and control platforms, and advanced sensing technologies for applications in border surveillance, anti-drone defense, and intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) missions.

The IDA stated that Taiwan has an industrial foundation in ICT, precision machinery, metal processing, and electronic components, and has been actively promoting the internationalization of its drone industry in recent years. The IDA has already assisted over 10 domestic companies in securing trial production or mass production orders from Anduril in areas such as drone airframe structures, payload equipment, and power systems.

The MOEA emphasized that the two sides will continue to deepen technical cooperation and industrial linkages, and will use corporate R&D platforms to assist companies in technology upgrades, quality verification, and manufacturing optimization, accelerating the connection to global drone and autonomous system market demands and enhancing Taiwan's key position in the international trusted supply chain.