National Army plans to introduce quadruped robots for deep and urban combat to annihilate enemies
Taiwan's MND plans to integrate massive, low-cost emerging technologies into asymmetric warfare, including over 210,000 drones and quadruped robots for reconnaissance and combat, to delay potential Chinese invasion decisions.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: April 24, 2026 at 21:23
- 🔍 Collected: April 24, 2026 at 21:32 (8 min after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 24, 2026 at 21:56 (23 min after Collected)
(Central News Agency reporter Wu Shu-wei, Taipei, 24th) Regarding the application of emerging technologies to asymmetric warfare, the Ministry of National Defense pointed out that it has planned to introduce highly mobile, multi-functional, and modular quadruped robots, unmanned transport, and tactical vehicles to execute reconnaissance, enemy annihilation, and resupply missions in deep and urban combat.
The Foreign and National Defense Committee of the Legislative Yuan will invite Minister of National Defense Wellington Koo on the 28th to report on "Effectiveness Analysis and Future Development of the Defense Innovation Office's Application of Emerging Technologies to Asymmetric Warfare" and take questions. The MND has already delivered the written report to legislators' offices today.
The MND pointed out that recent wars and military conflicts show that the nature of warfare is rapidly changing, shifting from traditional confrontations of large forces and main battle equipment to asymmetric warfare centered on massive, low-cost, and high-efficiency emerging technologies. The MND established the Defense Innovation Office (DIO) with the critical mission of introducing mature commercial tech products, promoting smart innovation, and accelerating defense applications, using technology to continuously enhance defense capabilities.
Regarding the acquisition avenues for defense innovation development, the MND mentioned three models: publicly soliciting prototype development, low-volume procurement for effectiveness evaluation, and direct project building or R&D introduction.
As for the application of emerging technologies, the MND revealed 8 key priorities. First is fusing diverse intelligence to strengthen early warning capabilities and intelligence assessment. It is comprehensively planning an intelligence integration system that, through data fusion and AI-assisted analysis, strengthens the monitoring and warning of enemy abnormal activities, enhancing the precision of intelligence assessment.
The 2nd key priority is the large-scale application and technological iteration of drones. A special budget has been allocated to acquire over 210,000 drones of various types, including anti-armor, surveillance, and attack drones.
The 3rd key priority is deploying ground unmanned vehicles in diverse scenarios. The military has planned to introduce highly mobile, multi-functional, and modular quadruped robots, unmanned transport, and tactical vehicles for reconnaissance, enemy annihilation, and resupply in deep and urban combat.
The MND pointed out the 4th key priority is using surface and underwater unmanned vehicles to support near-shore defense operations. It plans to build small suicide drone boats and underwater mine-clearing vehicles to enhance coastal defense and anti-landing capabilities. It will also test fast resupply unmanned boats to assist with logistics for outlying islands, improving operational endurance.
The 5th priority is combining soft and hard kills to counter enemy drone threats. Based on air defense and mobile mission needs, it has planned to install drone electromagnetic jamming devices, automated air defense gun turrets, drone control signal detection, and origin-attack equipment.
The 6th priority is a smart logistics system to improve overall efficiency. The MND is promoting a smart logistics system to increase equipment availability and using smart warehouse management tech to optimize space and material allocation at logistics depots. The 7th is ensuring uninterrupted command and control through multiple communication redundancies. The MND continues to build diverse communication capabilities and plans to install multi-link communication equipment to enhance operational resilience. The 8th is using AI cybersecurity tech to prevent advanced network threats.
The MND stated that the military will continue to deepen defense innovation and accelerate the introduction of emerging technologies, causing the Chinese Communist Party to face higher uncertainty when evaluating operational costs and risks, thereby delaying their decision to invade Taiwan.
The Foreign and National Defense Committee of the Legislative Yuan will invite Minister of National Defense Wellington Koo on the 28th to report on "Effectiveness Analysis and Future Development of the Defense Innovation Office's Application of Emerging Technologies to Asymmetric Warfare" and take questions. The MND has already delivered the written report to legislators' offices today.
The MND pointed out that recent wars and military conflicts show that the nature of warfare is rapidly changing, shifting from traditional confrontations of large forces and main battle equipment to asymmetric warfare centered on massive, low-cost, and high-efficiency emerging technologies. The MND established the Defense Innovation Office (DIO) with the critical mission of introducing mature commercial tech products, promoting smart innovation, and accelerating defense applications, using technology to continuously enhance defense capabilities.
Regarding the acquisition avenues for defense innovation development, the MND mentioned three models: publicly soliciting prototype development, low-volume procurement for effectiveness evaluation, and direct project building or R&D introduction.
As for the application of emerging technologies, the MND revealed 8 key priorities. First is fusing diverse intelligence to strengthen early warning capabilities and intelligence assessment. It is comprehensively planning an intelligence integration system that, through data fusion and AI-assisted analysis, strengthens the monitoring and warning of enemy abnormal activities, enhancing the precision of intelligence assessment.
The 2nd key priority is the large-scale application and technological iteration of drones. A special budget has been allocated to acquire over 210,000 drones of various types, including anti-armor, surveillance, and attack drones.
The 3rd key priority is deploying ground unmanned vehicles in diverse scenarios. The military has planned to introduce highly mobile, multi-functional, and modular quadruped robots, unmanned transport, and tactical vehicles for reconnaissance, enemy annihilation, and resupply in deep and urban combat.
The MND pointed out the 4th key priority is using surface and underwater unmanned vehicles to support near-shore defense operations. It plans to build small suicide drone boats and underwater mine-clearing vehicles to enhance coastal defense and anti-landing capabilities. It will also test fast resupply unmanned boats to assist with logistics for outlying islands, improving operational endurance.
The 5th priority is combining soft and hard kills to counter enemy drone threats. Based on air defense and mobile mission needs, it has planned to install drone electromagnetic jamming devices, automated air defense gun turrets, drone control signal detection, and origin-attack equipment.
The 6th priority is a smart logistics system to improve overall efficiency. The MND is promoting a smart logistics system to increase equipment availability and using smart warehouse management tech to optimize space and material allocation at logistics depots. The 7th is ensuring uninterrupted command and control through multiple communication redundancies. The MND continues to build diverse communication capabilities and plans to install multi-link communication equipment to enhance operational resilience. The 8th is using AI cybersecurity tech to prevent advanced network threats.
The MND stated that the military will continue to deepen defense innovation and accelerate the introduction of emerging technologies, causing the Chinese Communist Party to face higher uncertainty when evaluating operational costs and risks, thereby delaying their decision to invade Taiwan.