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New low‑cost attack UAV tested in joint U.S.–Taiwan defence effort to strengthen deterrence against rising China threat.
Taiwan and Kratos Defense, a US defense contractor, have successfully tested a new jet-powered attack drone, which represents a major step up towards building Taiwan’s military strength, especially amid rising tensions with China. The new attack drone, called Mighty Hornet IV, underwent testing at Kratos’s facility in Oklahoma City and aims to help Taiwan speedily build up its capabilities in deploying low-cost drones as a deterrence and wartime assets.
As part of the recent test, engineers at Kratos and Taiwan’s National Chung Shan Institute of Science and Technology (NCSIST) have tested the integration of Taiwanese mission payloads onto the Mighty Hornet IV. The recent test was declared a “milestone” by Kratos that could pave the way toward enhanced defence relations as well as accelerate development on the unmanned system, which is intended as a cruise missile-like weapon that could carry out fast countermeasures as well as preemptive long-range strikes. Indeed, the intention is to deploy in vast quantities in Taiwan.
“This collaborative effort marks another milestone in defense technology cooperation between the U.S. and Taiwan,” said the spokesperson for NCSIST, stating further, “This drone can contribute to the evolving defense requirements of Taiwan in the face of rising Chinese military pressure.”
This is in the wake of increased Chinese military activities in the area, notably air flights by Chinese planes and naval exercises. Taiwan’s defense minister reported an uptick in 2025 of 23% in the exercises carried out by Chinese aircraft as compared to the previous year. Military officers have pointed to the need for cheap, numerous unmanned planes to complicate an attack strategy.
The success of the test provides a foundation for further development and field tests later this year, and both Taipei and Washington are expected to continue to improve their joint defense technologies in the face of the challenges in the region.
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