The Minister of National Defense of the Republic of China, Gu Li Xiong, met with Palmer Luckey, the founder of the manufacturing company Anduril from the United States, on the 5th, to express gratitude for the delivery of the first batch of Altius-600M attack drones to the Taiwan military, which will help strengthen Taiwan’s defense capabilities.
The Ministry of National Defense of the Republic of China issued a press release on the evening of the 5th, stating that the Army’s first batch of Altius-600M attack drone systems were delivered to the Army on the 4th. Minister of National Defense Gu Li Xiong met with Palmer Luckey, the founder of the manufacturer Anduril from the United States on the 5th and exchanged souvenirs as a token of appreciation. He thanked the American team and the colleagues at the Ministry of National Defense for swiftly delivering the first batch of new equipment to the military, further enhancing the defense and combat capabilities of the national military.
Accompanied by Lieutenant General Yang Ji Rong, the Deputy Chief of the Army, Major General Chen Jian Yi, the Chief of Staff of the Army, and heads of relevant units of the Ministry of National Defense, Gu Li Xiong met with Palmer Luckey and his team on the afternoon of the 5th. In his speech, Gu Li Xiong mentioned that this project was initiated last year and the first batch was quickly delivered this year, providing the military with crucial “ready-to-fight” capabilities, effectively enhancing ground defense and combat capabilities.
Gu Li Xiong pointed out that with the rapid development of technology, the use of drones on the modern battlefield has become increasingly diversified. Drones are not only used for reconnaissance and communication relay on the battlefield but are also crucial for asymmetric warfare and modernized forces. Many private startups adopt agile development and rapid production models, utilizing software and AI capabilities to integrate mature technologies, thereby establishing innovative and reliable combat systems.
“In the face of current severe threats, the Ministry of National Defense continues to plan and acquire surveillance and attack drones to meet our defense operational needs. The successful deployment of the Altius-600M drone demonstrates the determination of the national military to respond to changes in the battlefield environment and accelerate the introduction of innovative technologies,” reiterated Gu Li Xiong. “The cooperation between Taiwan and the United States in utilizing emerging technologies to counter the threat from the Chinese Communist Party and to ensure regional peace and stability is of utmost significance.”
Gu Li Xiong further expressed that the national military will continue to build asymmetric and resilient defense capabilities, evaluate the operational use of emerging technologies and products through the Defense Innovation Office (DIO), and integrate them into the military’s force acquisition and construction. In the work of building and preparing for defense, he encourages every colleague to discard outdated thinking, embrace challenges and technological innovation, to create a deterrent advantage, effectively defeat the enemy, and safeguard the security of Taiwan.
Later in the evening, Palmer Luckey held a special lecture at the Ministry of National Defense’s auditorium on “Taiwan’s Military Technological Innovation,” sharing his unique insights on the use of emerging defense technologies. Minister Gu listened attentively throughout and hoped that the attendees could seize the opportunity to learn from successful experiences and concepts, inspiring progress in promoting defense affairs and military preparedness.