DIGITIMES Aerospace: Drone news

Home Tech Aerospace Drone

Friday 6 March 2026

Exclusive Interview: How Space West is engineering the UK's defense identity

In the high-stakes landscape of the UK's space economy, regional specialization is becoming a matter of strategic survival. While Scotland has staked its claim on launch services and the Midlands on high-volume manufacturing, the West of England is consolidating a critical niche: Space West. This burgeoning cluster is positioning itself as the UK's primary nexus for secure communications, robotics, and defense-integrated innovation.

Thursday 5 March 2026

AWS Middle East data centers hit by drones; Nvidia, Google adjust operations

Amazon Web Services (AWS) data centers in the Middle East were disrupted after drone attacks damaged facilities in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Bahrain, triggering service outages and forcing major technology companies to reassess regional operations.

Thursday 5 March 2026

Elan eyes growth from AI drone modules despite PC market decline

Touch chipmaker Elan held an investor briefing on March 3, 2026, sharing a positive outlook despite challenges in the PC sector. The company noted that customers are accelerating orders ahead of expected cost increases, making the first quarter of 2026 a seasonally strong quarter rather than a typical slowdown. While overall PC shipments may be pressured by memory supply constraints throughout 2026, Elan expects demand to concentrate on high-end products, boosting shipments of its advanced-spec offerings.

Thursday 5 March 2026

UK reshapes space policy with £500m push to build a competitive orbital industry

In a landmark pivot for British aerospace, Liz Lloyd, Minister for the Digital Economy, responsible for space, has announced a sweeping restructuring of national space policy, backed by a fresh GBP500 million (approx. US$668 million) investment package. The strategy signals an end to fragmented regional efforts, replaced by a "laser-focused" mission to transform the UK into a specialized, "mission-ready" space power.

Thursday 5 March 2026

Column: US drone policy reshapes supply chain opportunities for Taiwan

On June 6, 2025, US President Donald Trump signed two executive orders—"Unleashing American Drone Dominance" and "Restoring American Airspace Sovereignty"—mandating that the US drone industry exclude technology, parts, and materials from controlled countries (China, Russia, Iran, North Korea). The orders encourage adopting allied technologies to build an autonomous, resilient domestic ecosystem supporting the low-altitude economy and critical defense needs.

Thursday 5 March 2026

Egis showcases satellite and drone integration at MWC 2026

Egis Technology and its subsidiaries are jointly exhibiting at the 2026 Mobile World Congress (MWC 2026). Centered on integrated terrestrial and space connectivity, physical AI, and low-power intelligent computing, the group is highlighting its comprehensive capabilities in satellite IoT, edge AI visual perception, drone system integration, ultra-low latency wireless transmission, and ultra-low power AI chips.

Wednesday 4 March 2026

Space-Comm Expo 2026: In the race for resilient communications, BAE and Babcock move upward

As geopolitical tensions ripple through global markets, the 2026 Space-Comm Expo is set to open in London under unusually heightened expectations.

Wednesday 4 March 2026

US reverse-engineers Iran's Shahed drone to reshape asymmetric warfare with AI-powered LUCAS swarms

In late February 2026, the US and Israel launched coordinated strikes against Iran, deepening an already entrenched Middle East stalemate. During Operation Epic Fury, the US military confirmed it had deployed low-cost suicide drones for the first time—repurposing and upgrading technology rooted in Iran's own designs.

Wednesday 4 March 2026

Taiwan lacks autonomous command system for drone swarm tactics

The US military's first deployment of low-cost suicide drones has become a standout feature in its recent operation against Iran, demonstrating that while individual units are inexpensive, the true advantage lies in advanced AI and communication technologies behind them.

Tuesday 3 March 2026

Getac eyes defense digitalization amid Middle East conflict escalation

The intensifying conflicts in the Middle East are fueling demand for defense digitalization. Getac Holdings chairman James Hwang noted that as countries worldwide increase their defense budgets and adopt new warfare technologies like drones and AI digitalization, Getac's defense-related revenue, which accounted for about 20% in 2025, is expected to grow further in 2026.

Tuesday 3 March 2026

UK space leaders join global industry figures at Space-Comm Expo

The organizers of Space-Comm Expo Europe have confirmed the final lineup of speakers for what is set to be Europe's largest commercial space gathering, taking place March 4-5 at ExCeL London.

Monday 2 March 2026

US deploys LUCAS drone in Iran strike, mirroring Iran's Shahed-136 combat entrance

US Central Command (CENTCOM) confirmed that in its February 28 airstrike on Iran, it deployed for the first time the LUCAS (Low-Cost Uncrewed Combat Attack System), a low-cost combat attack drone manufactured by SpektreWorks and modeled on Iran's Shahed-136 unmanned aerial vehicle.

Thursday 26 February 2026

Coretronic turns a corner as robotics and MEMS units hit profitability

Coretronic Corp. has accelerated its transformation from a traditional backlight module supplier into a diversified technology group spanning AI sensing, drones, and automated logistics. This strategic pivot is now delivering tangible results, with two key subsidiaries — Coretronic Intelligent Robotics Corp. (CIRC) and Coretronic MEMS Corp. (CMC) — returning to profitability in 2025.

Wednesday 25 February 2026

DJI takes FCC to court over drone supply chain crackdown

DJI has filed a petition for review in the US Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, challenging the Federal Communications Commission's December 2025 expansion of its Covered List to include foreign-produced drones and critical components. The move could reshape US drone sales, supply chains, and market access for global operators, according to DroneLife and Reuters.

Wednesday 25 February 2026

From rebar to rockets: China Steel retools for the high-tech era amid rising trade tensions

Following the US Supreme Court ruling that US President Donald Trump had acted unlawfully in invoking the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) to impose sweeping global tariffs, Trump swiftly announced a new across-the-board 15% tariff hike. Taiwanese steelmaker China Steel Corporation (CSC) has stated that the tariff dispute is far from over and may intensify further, requiring close monitoring of future developments.

Sunday 15 February 2026

Column: US NDAA opens new defense manufacturing opportunities for Taiwan firms

The 2026 US National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), signed at the end of 2025, introduces significant new business prospects for Taiwanese companies by emphasizing Taiwan's security and cooperation in defense procurement. Key provisions include a US$1 billion Taiwan security cooperation initiative and authorization for the US Department of Defense (DoD) to establish a joint unmanned systems program with Taiwan starting March 1, 2026, focusing on co-developing drones and counter-drone technologies.

Friday 13 February 2026

Explainer: how US-Taiwan 'ART' deal rewires global tech economy

On February 12, 2026, the United States and Taiwan finalized a structural "re-pricing" of their economic relationship. The Agreement on Reciprocal Trade (ART) is not a traditional free trade agreement; it is a strategic pact that reshores semiconductor manufacturing to the US while anchoring Taiwan within a "non-red," or non-China, supply chain.

Friday 13 February 2026

Shield AI brings US Hivemind platform to power Taiwan’s drone swarm ambitions

Shield AI recently announced another contract with the National Chung-Shan Institute of Science & Technology (NCSIST). The two parties will jointly promote the research, validation, and deployment of AI flight control unmanned systems. This collaboration will integrate the US military's operational Hivemind platform into NCSIST's intelligent unmanned systems, assisting Taiwan in developing indigenous AI flight control technology. This technology is key for Taiwan's future establishment of drone swarm combat capabilities.

Thursday 12 February 2026

Taiwan charts course toward defense autonomy with NT$400 billion push

For Taiwan, the threat of a Chinese blockade is not merely military — it is industrial. Beijing's tightening grip on global technology supply chains has made clear that any conflict could sever the island's access to the materials and components its defense sector depends on. Taipei's response is to build a defense industry that can sustain itself from within.

Wednesday 11 February 2026

CSBC eyes profit turnaround in 2026 with momentum from building submarines and vessels for Taiwan Navy

Taiwanese shipbuilding company CSBC expects to return to profitability in 2026 as its full-year 2025 revenue rebounded significantly, aligning with its operational plans despite ongoing losses. The company highlighted the momentum from Taiwan's indigenous defense shipbuilding program, including the recent fourth submerged test of the CSBC-built Hai Kun-class defense submarine off the coast of the southern Taiwanese city of Kaohsiung, with production schedules extending through 2038, underpinning long-term growth.

Monday 9 February 2026

Taiwan's Mighty Hornet IV drone completes US integration test, aims for full local production

Taiwan's National Chung-Shan Institute of Science & Technology (NCSIST) and US-based Kratos Defense & Security Solutions have announced the successful completion of system integration testing for the Mighty Hornet IV high-speed attack drone in the United States. Following further flight tests and validations, the project plans to incorporate Taiwanese suppliers into the development chain with a goal of achieving 100% Taiwan-made production.

Friday 6 February 2026

Taiwan's drone exports surge, with economics ministry confident in NT$20 billion target

Taiwan's drone industry has rapidly grown from scratch to exporting to European countries like Poland and the Czech Republic, generating over NT$3 billion (US$95 million) in output within just one year. Minister for economic affairs Ming-hsin Kung expressed strong confidence on January 5 that Taiwan's drone production value will reach NT$20 billion annually.

Friday 6 February 2026

Radbon sees overseas revenue surge on aerospace and defense demand

Radbon Electronics said it continues to deepen its presence in the aerospace and defense markets, benefiting from robust demand from overseas customers that drove double-digit revenue growth in January 2026. While the first half of the year is traditionally a seasonal lull for the industry, the company said its success in expanding internationally has made overseas orders a key pillar supporting future operations.

Thursday 5 February 2026

Jiin Ming expands into energy storage EPC services and drones, targets ISR defense market

Jiin Ming Industry is transitioning from conventional metal stamping into drones and engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) services for energy storage projects, with an eye on increased opportunities in the drone sector amid surging defense-related demand after the outbreak of the Russia–Ukraine War. The company has launched two major drone platforms to build an intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) ecosystem, aiming in 2026 to compete for Ministry of National Defense drone contracts valued at approximately NT$2–4 billion (US$63–127 million).

Thursday 5 February 2026

Taiwan invited to join Trump's Pax Silica initiative

Minister of Economic Affairs Ming-hsin Kung completed the sixth Taiwan-US Economic Prosperity Partnership Dialogue (EPPD) on January 27, 2026, with US Under Secretary of State Jacob Helberg. During the meeting, the two sides signed the Joint Statement on the Pax Silica Declaration. According to the statement, as AI accelerates innovation and reshapes the global economy and supply chains, the two sides will deepen their comprehensive economic partnership and establish an economic security order based on trust, technological complementarity, shared interests, and a common commitment to a more prosperous future.

More Drone coverage