Taiwan military first unveils US-made attack drone combat and training workflow

In recent years, the Taiwan Army has actively promoted asymmetric warfare capabilities, with the establishment and operational readiness of drone units serving as a crucial component of its defense transformation. The Army Unmanned Systems Training Command recently introduced and detailed the operational effectiveness and practical training procedures of the US-made ALTIUS 600M loitering munition for the first time, showcasing the military's latest progress toward unmanned and intelligent warfare at the grassroots level. According to Sergeant Weng Wei-zhe, an instructor within the unit, the tactical application of this drone features a high degree of mobility and flexibility. From equipment deployment, pre-launch system checks and preparation, to the final launch, the entire process takes approximately 15 minutes to complete. This significantly shortens the reaction time for units, enabling them to rapidly provide fire support in rapidly changing battlefield environments.

As an advanced unmanned aircraft system manufactured in the United States, the ALTIUS 600M was originally designed to meet the modern battlefield's demand for rapid deployment and precision strikes. In terms of performance, the drone features high-altitude flight capabilities and low noise signatures, meaning it maintains a higher survival rate and better concealment under enemy air defense radar and acoustic detection alerts. Furthermore, its loiter time of up to approximately 90 minutes provides frontline commanders with ample time to use its onboard electro-optical reconnaissance equipment for prolonged battlefield intelligence gathering and target designation, launching attacks at the most opportune moment to form a potent capability that combines reconnaissance and strikes.

With the transformation of modern warfare, drones have demonstrated a decisive impact in recent real-world conflicts such as the war in Ukraine, prompting Taiwan to accelerate the acquisition and development of various drone units. The core objective of the Army in establishing the Unmanned Systems Training Command is to systematically train professional operators, establish standard operating procedures, and rapidly integrate these new equipment types into military combat power. The introduction and public demonstration of the ALTIUS 600M symbolize that the Taiwan Army's frontline fire support system is gradually transitioning from traditional heavy artillery and vehicle-mounted weapons into a new era of highly digitized, stealthy, and unmanned warfare, which will help significantly enhance the military's deterrence and contingency response capabilities in defensive operations.

For frontline combat units, the addition of the ALTIUS 600M fills certain gaps in mobile strike firepower for traditional infantry and armored forces. In the past, when units encountered heavily fortified enemy strongpoints or concealed targets, they often had to call for long-range artillery support or rely on aviation assets, processes that were not only cumbersome but also constrained by weather and communications. Now, with attack drones capable of being launched within 15 minutes, small frontline units can independently secure localized air strike dominance, achieving the tactical objective of immediate detection and instant destruction. This "on-demand strike" capability holds extremely high practical value and tactical flexibility for Taiwan's defense operations, which emphasize a densely populated geography and prioritize dispersion and concealment.

Looking ahead, the proliferation of such unmanned systems and the refinement of tactical doctrines will remain a key focus for the military's force generation and combat readiness. Through continuous live-exercise drills and instructor training, the Unmanned Systems Training Command aims not only to familiarize officers and soldiers with the operational limits of US-made equipment, but also to develop optimal combat models tailored to Taiwan's geographical environment and enemy threat assessments. As more new types of drones are successively commissioned and handed over to grassroots units for deployment, Taiwan's asymmetric defense network will become denser and more robust, providing stronger substantive guarantees for overall national defense security.