US defence technology company AeroVironment and Taiwan-based Thunder Tiger have signed a memorandum of understanding to examine the integration of Switchblade loitering munitions with unmanned surface vessels and ground vehicles. One proposal involves equipping a Thunder Tiger unmanned boat with a launcher capable of carrying multiple Switchblade munitions. The companies will evaluate system compatibility and consider conducting demonstrations in the future. Switchblade systems are launched aircraft that can search for targets before striking them. Their potential integration with unmanned platforms could provide military operators with additional deployment options across land and maritime environments. Signed during the Association of the US Army’s annual exhibition in Washington, the agreement also covers possible joint drone manufacturing and technology development in Taiwan. The initiative comes as Taiwan seeks to strengthen domestic drone production and reduce dependence on components sourced from China. A new aerospace and drone campus inaugurated at the National Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology is intended to accommodate 100 companies and support design, assembly and testing. An adjoining industrial park is expected to connect manufacturers, government agencies and universities through shared engineering and computing resources.
