NCSIST attack drone boat could enter combat evaluation in June: Source

Taipei, May 29 (CNA) An attack drone boat being developed by the National Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology (NCSIST) will likely enter combat evaluation in June, a source familiar with the matter told CNA on Thursday.

Following the success of its evaluation, the unmanned surface vehicle (USV) will be demonstrated to the military during a precision live-fire missile drill at Jiupeng Base in Pingtung County in August, according to the source, who spoke on condition of anonymity.

The planned demonstration will simulate a battlefield scenario where the NCSIST drone boat engages various surface targets, the source said.

Although appearing similar to USVs being produced by private manufacturers, the "Kuai Chi" attack drone boat's internal guidance and control systems as well as other core technologies are developed and produced entirely in-house by the NCSIST, it added.

It is completely different from other commercial drone boats currently available on the market, the source said.

According to Sun Chun-ching (孫春青), an official with the Systems Development Center at the NCSIST, a slew of USVs developed by four different companies will be unveiled during a showcase scheduled for June.

As to whether the event will also include the NCSIST attack drone boat, Sun told reporters during a Ministry of National Defense press briefing on Wednesday that the "Kuai Chi" is a research and development project currently undergoing related evaluations.

Due to the sensitive nature of the project, it will not be unveiled on this occasion, he said, adding that if its evaluations are successfully completed, it could be introduced to the public during the Taipei Aerospace and Defense Technology Exhibition in September.