Unmanned boat demand boosts outlook for Taiwan’s leading shipbuilders

Taiwan’s 2026 defense budget is set to approach NT$1 trillion amid increases in military spending and heightened defense policies. This will lead to a major boost in maritime and aerial contracts in the short term, including the largest-ever procurement of drones at 50,000 units. Additionally, the National Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology’s (NCSIST) “Kuachi” attack-type unmanned boats have recently passed operational evaluations, with mass production expected to begin in 2026, and orders for more than 1,000 units are expected.