The Russia–Ukraine war has highlighted the critical role of drones as key tools in modern warfare, demonstrating their strategic importance. Meanwhile, the global trend toward de-risking supply chains—particularly the move toward non-red (non-China dependent) alternatives—has created significant opportunities in the international drone market.
According to a market forecast report by Forecast International, the global UAV (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle) market is expected to grow rapidly between 2023 and 2032. Over the next decade, the number of commercial drones is projected to exceed 85.54 million units, with a market value of USD 58.5 billion. Military drone demand is also anticipated to reach approximately 56,000 units, totaling USD 54 billion in market value.
Taiwanese drone manufacturers possess strong global competitiveness in terms of new technology development and integration. However, most are small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with limited resources and scale, making it difficult to achieve mass production due to high initial investment costs and insufficient demand. In this context, the formation of an industry alliance becomes essential. The Alliance serves to connect SMEs with global business opportunities, integrate resources, and showcase Taiwan’s strengths in flexible innovation and high-efficiency production.
With strong support from government policies, Taiwan’s drone industry is poised to become a key player in the global drone supply chain. This will open up commercial opportunities in non-red markets, strengthen Taiwan’s global competitiveness, and accelerate the promotion of homegrown drone brands to the international stage. To fulfill this vision, the Alliance will focus on the following core objectives:
1. Enhancing Information Sharing
The Alliance is committed to building a knowledge-sharing platform for Taiwan’s drone industry. By encouraging open communication and active information exchange among members, the Alliance aims to reduce communication barriers, align goals, and promote mutual learning. Technical cooperation will be actively supported to improve collective innovation and competitiveness.
2. Developing a Complete Industrial Ecosystem
The Alliance aims to integrate key players across all tiers of the drone supply chain. By integrating industry, government, academia, and research institutions, the Alliance will help build a comprehensive ecosystem—from raw materials, equipment, R&D, manufacturing, to assembly. This effort aims to strengthen Taiwan’s supply chain and establish its own global drone brand.
3. Promoting International Collaboration
With the global drone market growing rapidly, the Alliance will actively participate in international trade shows and industrial exchange activities to increase Taiwan’s visibility. These efforts aim to deepen connections with global partners and create new opportunities for international cooperation.
4. Building a Non-Red Supply Chain
Through industrial collaboration and technological innovation within Taiwan’s drone sector, the development of a secure and autonomous non-red supply chain has become a key strategic move to ensure industrial stability and security — and is emerging as the core of the next-generation global drone ecosystem.
TEDIBOA