A wave of next-generation defense contracts from the US Department of Defense is poised to transform the global unmanned systems industry in 2025, and Taiwan may play a pivotal role. With the Pentagon expected to release a large volume of unmanned vehicle orders next year, US defense tech startups are racing to secure production capacity. Many of these firms, while brimming with innovation, face significant constraints in manufacturing scale, opening the door for Taiwan’s precision-driven, China-free supply chain.