Executive Yuan Proposes Special Act for Unmanned Vehicle Procurement with Budget Cap of NT$210 Billion

(CNA reporter Lai Yu-chen, Taipei, June 18) The Legislative Yuan's May passage of a special military procurement act excluded items such as drones and unmanned surface vessels. To continue advancing national defense unmanned vehicle development, the Executive Yuan meeting today will discuss and approve the draft 'Special Act for Indigenous Defense Unmanned Vehicle Procurement,' with a proposed budget cap of NT$210 billion. The procurement plan will run from August 2024 through the end of 2031, gradually acquiring coastal surveillance and coastal attack drones, among other systems.

In May, the Legislative Yuan passed the 'Special Act for National Security Defense and Asymmetric Warfare Capability Enhancement Procurement' with a total budget of NT$780 billion, setting a maximum budget of NT$300 billion for the first batch of military procurement requests and NT$480 billion for the second. However, commercial purchases and commissioned developments related to drones, unmanned vessels, the Taiwan Tactical Network (TTN), the Team Awareness Kit (TAK), and the Qianggong missile were not included.

President Lai Qingde, Premier Cho Jung-tai, Vice Premier Cheng Li-chun, and Defense Minister Ku Yu-hsiung have repeatedly emphasized the continued development of the unmanned vehicle industry, stating that operational needs in this area will be supplemented through additional budgets, annual budgets, and special budgets.

The Executive Yuan meeting has added a new agenda item today, planning to deliberate and pass the draft 'Special Act for Indigenous Defense Unmanned Vehicle Procurement.' In accordance with Article 83, Paragraph 1 of the Budget Act, a special budget of up to NT$210 billion will be allocated. The procurement period is expected to run from August 1, 2024, to December 31, 2031, with indigenous defense unmanned vehicles acquired annually.

Procurement items include coastal surveillance drones, coastal attack drones, and small suicide unmanned boats, aiming to enhance the overall combat capability of the military and ensure national security. (Editor: Hsieh Chia-chen) 1150618