Taiwan's Ministry of National Defense announced March 22 that it has received its first two MQ-9B high-altitude unmanned aerial vehicles from the United States. Deputy Defense Minister Hsu Szu-chien (徐斯儉) and Taiwan's representative to the U.S., Alexander Yui (俞大㵢), attended the official delivery ceremony on March 17, Pacific Time.
According to the defense ministry, Hsu and Yu sat in the flight control seats to personally observe the reconnaissance and surveillance capabilities of a fully equipped, airborne drone. The delegation then proceeded to the runway to witness the aircraft's landing and take commemorative photographs, which were subsequently released by the ministry.
The MQ-9B procurement program was initiated in response to enemy threat assessments and urgent national defense requirements, the ministry stated. Taiwan is acquiring a total of four of the next-generation unmanned aircraft from the U.S. Under the current delivery schedule, the first two aircraft are being transferred in 2026, with the remaining two scheduled for delivery in 2027 to enhance the military's operational effectiveness.
The defense ministry expressed its appreciation to the U.S. government and manufacturer General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc. for their strong support in facilitating the handover. Officials added that Taiwan will continue to work alongside the U.S. through bilateral security cooperation mechanisms to ensure the smooth production and delivery of the remaining aircraft, further strengthening Taiwan's defense capabilities. （Related： Exclusive | No Regime Change, No Quick Fix: Ex-U.S. Admiral's Blunt Hormuz Assessment ｜ Latest ）
