Taiwan to receive first 2 SkyGuardian drones from U.S. in 2026

Taipei, Nov. 6 (CNA) Taiwan's military expects to receive the first two of four MQ-9B "SkyGuardian" drones it ordered from the United States in the third quarter of next year as scheduled, an Air Force general said Thursday.

During a session of the Legislative Yuan, Air Force Chief of Staff Lee Ching-jan (李慶然) said that production of the next-generation, U.S.-made drones was proceeding as planned.

According to the military's budget proposal for the fiscal year 2025, the remaining two MQ-9B SkyGuardian drones will be delivered in 2027.

In a 2020 statement announcing the sale, the U.S. Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) said the MQ-9Bs would provide Taiwan with "intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, target acquisition, and counter-land, counter-sea, and anti-submarine strike capabilities."

Taiwan's military is also set to receive 14 M136 Volcano mine-dispensing systems and 28 Abrams tanks from the U.S. in 2026.

Lee was responding to concerns raised by lawmakers about delayed U.S. weapons shipments to Taiwan.

Last month, Taiwan's Air Force said it would not receive all 66 F-16 Block 70 fighter jets from the U.S. by the end of 2026, as originally scheduled, due to manpower shortages and supply chain disruptions.