Coast Guard Administration Debuts Unmanned Vehicles at National Day to Showcase Tech Defense

As the countdown to the Double Ten National Day ceremony intensifies, the Presidential Palace Plaza and its surrounding areas hosted a large-scale full-force rehearsal today. Among the various equipment featured in this year’s National Day parade, one of the primary focal points for military enthusiasts and the public was the advanced gear from the Coast Guard Administration of the Oceanic and Fisheries Administration, making its first public appearance. During today’s rehearsal, the Coast Guard Administration showcased a U.S.-made, military-grade JUMP 20 drone and the domestically developed M18 unmanned surface vessel. The introduction of these maritime and aerial unmanned vehicles not only injected new technological elements into the traditional National Day display but also conveyed Taiwan’s firm determination to actively pursue a transformation toward "technology-driven shipbuilding" and "smart maritime defense" in the face of increasingly complex challenges in the surrounding waters.

As geopolitical tensions have continued to escalate in recent years, the waters surrounding Taiwan frequently face potential threats from gray-zone conflicts, including maritime militias, fishing vessels crossing boundaries, and the normalized patrols of various unidentified vessels. Consequently, the law enforcement and national defense support missions borne by the Coast Guard Administration have become increasingly demanding. Given the limitations of traditional manpower and large vessels, leveraging technology to enhance the efficiency of maritime surveillance and monitoring has become a top priority for national security teams in recent years. The JUMP 20 drone, unveiled during the National Day rehearsal, is a vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) unmanned aircraft system. It features high maneuverability and long endurance, requiring no long runways for takeoff and landing, making it highly suitable for deployment on Coast Guard vessels with limited space or on forward bases on offshore islands.

In addition to the aerial JUMP 20 drone, the M18 unmanned surface vessel on the water also attracted significant attention. This domestically developed and manufactured unmanned surface vehicle represents a significant breakthrough in Taiwan’s defense autonomy and its military industrial chain in the field of unmanned systems. The M18 unmanned surface vessel is capable of conducting long-duration patrols, searches, and surveillance in rough sea conditions, and can even replace manned vessels in specific high-risk missions, thereby reducing the direct dangers faced by frontline law enforcement personnel and military officers. Through the coordination of surface unmanned vessels and aerial drones, the Coast Guard Administration will be able to construct a more three-dimensional and dense information and defense network in the future when executing tasks such as maintaining security in Taiwan’s waters, investigating smuggling, and conducting maritime search and rescue operations.

The decision by the Coast Guard Administration to feature these highly advanced unmanned vehicles in the national celebration for the first time carries profound strategic implications and policy signals. On one hand, it serves to demonstrate to the public the government’s concrete achievements in strengthening national defense and maritime security, allowing taxpayers to see the tangible benefits of defense and coast guard budgets. On the other hand, it sends a clear signal to the international community that Taiwan is accelerating the construction of asymmetric combat and defense capabilities. In the face of gray-zone harassment from surrounding adversaries, Taiwan not only possesses a firm will to defend itself but also has advanced technological equipment forged through the combined strengths of industry, government, academia, and research, demonstrating a powerful capacity to protect the blue homeland comprehensively.

With the successful conclusion of today’s National Day rehearsal, the JUMP 20 drones and M18 unmanned surface vessels, which symbolize the new generation of Taiwan’s maritime defense power, have successfully left a deep impression on the public. They are expected to become the center of attention again during the formal ceremony on National Day, undergoing inspection by dignitaries from all sectors of society and from both domestic and international guests. In the future, as this type of unmanned equipment gradually completes testing and evaluation and is formally deployed to frontline units, Taiwan’s coast guard combat capabilities will experience a qualitative leap, providing a solid and reliable technological shield to maintain peace, stability, and maritime order in the Taiwan Strait region.

(Source: Central News Agency)