The Taiwan Space Agency's (TASA) procurement project focusing on a communications satellite manufacturing industrialization platform has officially concluded, with a total awarded amount of approximately NT$2.36 billion (US$77.27 million). Compal Electronics and Wistron each secured contracts worth roughly NT$1.18 billion.
Drones have become a key technology for the development of both national security and civilian applications. However, South Korea's current drone industry heavily relies on China for materials, components, and airframes. Calls for technological independence and the establishment of a comprehensive local ecosystem are rising in line with the global trend of getting rid of China's influence in drone development.
China is fast-tracking the BeiDou Navigation Satellite System (BDS), broadening its ecosystem from core infrastructure to commercial applications and positioning it as a global platform, not just a domestic project.
A new reality of modern warfare is on full display. The recent Taipei Aerospace and Defense Technology Exhibition (TADTE 2025) and DSEI 2025 in London have revealed a dramatic shift in global defense priorities, driven by the battlefield lessons of the war in Ukraine. Militaries and defense contractors are now prioritizing unmanned systems and low-cost, mass-produced munitions designed to overwhelm enemy defenses.
As demand surges for AI servers, 6G communications, and non-terrestrial networks (NTN), the global low-Earth orbit (LEO) satellite industry is rapidly evolving from its traditional roles in research and defense to becoming a critical component of next-generation infrastructure.
Driven by its 3+3+3 strategy, Hon Hai Precision Industry (Foxconn) is actively participating in the emerging space industry, including low Earth orbit (LEO) satellites. In addition to continuously developing key components for ground receiving equipment, LEO satellites, and communication payload systems, the company also plans to assist satellite manufacturers with production and manufacturing. Through these efforts, Foxconn aims to become a leader in the new space industry.
Taiwan, surrounded by ocean, views unmanned surface vessels (USVs) as vital to its defense strategy. The nation's three major shipbuilders — CSBC Corp., Lungteh Shipbuilding, and Jong Shyn Shipbuilding — have each launched domestically developed USVs, with production capacity now expanding. These vessels are set to operate in tandem with unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) to create an integrated sea-air defense network.
The United Kingdom and Taiwan are deepening their partnership in the global space economy, leveraging complementary strengths in innovation and manufacturing to accelerate progress across multiple domains.
The British Office Taipei and Taiwan Space Agency (TASA) today co-hosted the 2025 UK–Taiwan Space Roundtable, spotlighting growing collaboration between the two partners in satellite applications, navigation, and the broader space economy.
The global aerospace sector's rebound from the pandemic has fueled strong demand for aircraft and related components, leading Taiwanese suppliers to report order volumes far exceeding their production capacities. While these companies are not short of contracts, limitations in factory space and time-consuming certification processes restrain output growth. To meet customer needs and diversify, Taiwanese firms are expanding from small parts manufacturing toward larger assemblies like aircraft fuselages.
Lessons from the battlefields of Ukraine and the Red Sea have made one thing clear: low-cost, mass-produced, and expendable drones are transforming combat. Once largely confined to civilian use, unmanned aircraft have rapidly expanded into military applications, emerging as one of the most closely watched assets in modern defense.
More coverage
