Taiwan's CSBC to release drone boat prototype in early 2025

Taipei, Jan. 6 (CNA) Taiwanese shipbuilder CSBC Corp. on Monday said it is planning to release a prototype unmanned surface vehicle (USV), or drone boat, for use by the military in the early part of 2025.

The USV prototype, which was built by a team set up in 2024, is currently undergoing testing and is scheduled to be released in the first quarter of this year, CSBC spokesman Chou Chih-ming (周志明) said at a company-organized media day.

The USV will initially be used for military purposes, though the finalized version of the vessel could eventually be authorized for commercial or civilian use, Chou said.

CSBC did not provide additional details on the USV, other than to say it has a "China-free supply chain" and was mostly built with Taiwanese materials and parts.

Military affairs experts have urged Taiwan in recent years to ramp up its production of unmanned aerial, surface and underwater vehicles, citing their low cost and effective use in the Russia-Ukraine war.