Taipei: Taiwan's exports of finished drones to Europe surged more than 40-fold in 2025 and continued rising in early 2026, as Western countries moved to reduce reliance on Chinese-made unmanned aerial vehicles amid concerns over cybersecurity and supply chain resilience.
According to Focus Taiwan, Taiwan exported 107,433 finished drones to Europe in 2025, up from 2,574 units a year earlier, as reported by the Research Institute for Democracy, Society and Emerging Technology. The momentum carried into 2026, with exports reaching 136,010 units in the first quarter alone, surpassing the total for all of 2025.
The rapid growth is part of Taiwan's strategy to establish itself in a "non-red" drone supply chain, driven by geopolitical tensions and efforts by the United States and Europe to lessen their dependence on Chinese manufacturers. Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI) Chairman Wu Tsung-tsong emphasized Taiwan's opportunity to play a larger role in trusted drone supply chains due to its semiconductor capabilities and democratic credentials.
In January, Taiwan's push was bolstered when ITRI became the only overseas certification site in the U.S.-led Green UAS program, focusing on cybersecurity and trusted sourcing for commercial drones. Nevertheless, Wu noted that Taiwan needs to improve in software and system integration to close the gap with the U.S. and Europe, prompting ITRI to seek partnerships with overseas startups.
Economics Minister Kung Ming-hsin stated that the government has ramped up investment in the drone sector, allocating NT$44.2 billion (US$1.4 billion) over six years for various drone-related infrastructure and technology advancements. This investment includes developing testing facilities and research bases, with plans to procure 50,000 drones for public-sector applications over the next three years.
Taiwan's drone industry output value increased from NT$5 billion in 2024 to NT$12.9 billion in 2025, with exports climbing significantly. The Cabinet anticipates the sector's output value will exceed NT$40 billion by 2030, driven by civilian technology applications.
The government views drones as part of its broader geopolitical strategy, leveraging them similarly to its "semiconductor diplomacy." Chiang Zhen-wei, executive chief of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' drone diplomacy task force, sees Taiwan's drone diplomacy as aligning supply chains for developed nations with the needs of Taiwan's diplomatic allies.
Despite Taiwan's progress, challenges remain, particularly from competitive Chinese drone manufacturers like DJI. ITRI Chairman Wu Tsung-tsong pointed out the urgency for Taiwan to influence global drone industry standards before market rules solidify, to avoid being relegated to OEM or ODM roles.