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Carbon-Based Technology takes flight: pioneering composite materials in global drone market

Chloe Liao, Taipei; Vyra Wu, DIGITIMES Asia 0

Credit: Carbon-Based Technology

Carbon-Based Technology, a promising entrant in the drone industry, officially debuted on the stock market recently, specializing in the production of composite materials. The company underscores the global potential of the drone market, with a long-term vision to become a leading subcontractor for unmanned vehicles.

Focusing primarily on the research and application of aerospace carbon fiber composite materials, Carbon-Based Technology is actively engaged in the manufacturing and assembly of military UAV bodies. Since 2011, the Taiwan-based company served as a supplier to the National Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology (NCSIST), contributing to the development of various military-grade UAV models.

Carbon-Based Technology's core strength lies in its expertise in manufacturing composite material components. Beyond meeting the lightweight requirements for UAV bodies, the company produces battery boxes for electric buses that reduce weight by an impressive 60% compared to traditional metal materials.

As unmanned vehicles reshape modern warfare strategies, global attention is increasingly turning to the burgeoning drone industry. While Taiwan's current drone market primarily caters to commercial-grade military applications, Carbon-Based Technology sees the future of drones in the international arena, a key motivation for its decision to go public.

The military applications of drones have garnered significant interest, prompting countries worldwide to invest actively in the procurement, deployment, and research and development of military UAVs. Projections indicate a robust compound annual growth rate of 27.6% in the global military drone market from 2022 to 2025.

Insiders in the drone industry suggest that the government plans to acquire 3,000 drones within the next five years. However, this number is considered inadequate, given the consumable nature of drones in a battlefield scenario, potentially being depleted within an hour. With a substantial rise in global drone demand, supply chains worldwide are gearing up for the anticipated surge.

In addition to mitigating reliance on a single domestic market, the natural evolution of drone supply chains involves expanding into international territories. Geosat Aerospace & Technology and Thunder Tiger have already engaged in collaborative international drone projects. Carbon-Based Technology affirms its commitment to focus on mass-producing and maintaining military drones, subcontract manufacturing commercial UAVs, and domestic and international drone sales. Additionally, the company is venturing into the information integration business for avionics systems.

Looking ahead, Carbon-Based Technology's ambitious long-term goal is to develop electromagnetic pulse vehicle technology and emerge as a leading global subcontractor for unmanned vehicles. This strategic expansion encompasses diverse areas, including low-Earth orbit satellites, composite materials for electric bus components, and concurrent entry into the aerospace and space industries.

Carbon-Based Technology currently operates across key sectors such as manufacturing medium to large military-grade UAVs, carbon fiber material production, and drone assembly and maintenance.