Taiwan has revealed its first domestically produced missile developed in collaboration with a US defense firm, a move that underscores its growing defense partnership with Washington as tensions with China continue to rise. The system was presented by the National Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology (NCSIST), Taiwan’s leading defense manufacturer.
The newly displayed land-mobile missile is derived from the Barracuda-500, created in partnership with California-based Anduril Industries. Designed as a low-cost, self-guided weapon, the missile can strike both land and maritime targets and is estimated to cost around $216,000 per unit. Production is expected to begin within 18 months, though NCSIST has not disclosed its range. Alongside the missile, the institute also showcased prototypes of an underwater drone and an autonomous underwater mine, also co-developed with Anduril.
This unveiling builds on earlier defense developments. In August, Taiwan strengthened its arsenal with the delivery of drones, missiles, and unmanned vessels. Anduril Industries has already supplied Altius loitering munitions through a 2024 foreign military sale, while NCSIST signed agreements to acquire AI-enabled command-and-control systems and advanced unmanned aerial platforms.
Taiwan’s broader defense modernization includes ambitious plans to produce 1,320 Kuai Chi attack surface drones for use by the navy, marine corps, and army special operations units. The military has also accelerated drone adoption by classifying small systems as expendable and embedding drone training in military academies. In parallel, the Ministry of Defense announced preparations for a new special budget worth $20–30 billion to be allocated in 2026, its fourth such fund, aimed at scaling missile, drone, and command system capabilities.
