Taiwan, US develop non-red charger and battery supply chain

SOLID SOLUTION: The chain would meet the military’s needs and could position the nation as a global supplier of Anduril batteries and chargers

• By Fang Wei-li and Jake Chung / Staff reporter, with staff writer

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The military worked with the US to develop a non-China supply chain for batteries and chargers used by its Altius-600 drones, with the batteries to be manufactured in Taiwan, Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Legislator Wang Ting-yu (王定宇) said yesterday.

Reports that the drones had been procured without chargers — as the original chargers were made in China — were only half correct, as they did not mention the solution being developed by Taiwan and the US, he said.

Reports had said that the chargers were not included in the US’ Letter of Offer and Acceptance (LOA), as they were made in China, and that as of April, no alternative supplier had been found, requiring US technical representatives to come to Taiwan to charge the drones.

An Altius-600M attack drone mounted on top of a vehicle in Kaohsiung is pictured on June 16.

Photo: Lee Hui-chou, Taipei Times

Wang said they were “suicide drones” that would provide significant firepower and deterrence against armored vehicles and amphibious landings.

Some components of the original charging system were made in China and could not be procured under a government policy restricting the use of any components made in that country, he said.

The military and the US have since completed work on alternatives for the batteries and charging systems, Wang said, adding that the batteries would be manufactured in Taiwan, with a major manufacturer already receiving technology transfers and beginning production.

The new supply chain would meet the military’s needs and could eventually allow Taiwan to become a supplier of batteries and charging systems to Anduril’s global customers, he said.

The Ministry of National Defense late last month announced a NT$26.9 billion (US$852.67 million) procurement of 1,554 Altius-700M anti-armor attack drones and 478 Altius-600 ISR drones.

The first batch of drones bolstered the army’s firepower and were delivered with fully charged batteries, Wang said.

The army said each Altius-600M is procured with one battery installed and one spare. The manufacturer has also developed a non-China supply chain for chargers, which is scheduled to be delivered according to the procurement timetable.

The military regards the Altius-600M as expendable ammunition, meaning the drones are treated as consumables during combat and live-fire training.