Taiwan to Develop 3D Printed ‘Drone Army’

Increasingly, it seems like additive manufacturing could be changing the face of modern warfare. Already in Ukraine, we have seen how 3D printing can be used to create not just tourniquets for those who are injured but also weapons. And now yet another company has jumped on the bandwagon. Along with the US, Taiwan is working on creating a 3D printed ‘drone army’ that it will use to help counter China in the region.

David and Goliath, Ford and Ferrari, Russia and Finland (or Ukraine), history is filled with stories of the underdogs overcoming those who are more powerful than them. But there’s a reason why it’s a trope. It is rare that a state can overcome an adversary that is so much more powerful than them. But with the success of Ukraine in its battle against Russia, it seems Taiwan is seeing how 3D printing can play a role in that struggle.

Located near to China, Taiwan and the other country have not always had the most peaceful relationship (photo credits: BBC)

For those who may not know, the history of Taiwan and China started in 1949 when the ROC government of China relocated to the island, formerly occupied by Japan, amidst a civil war with the Chinese Communist Party. Since then, relations between the two have remained contentious, with both claiming to be the legitimate Chinese government and China denying the legitimacy of Taiwan as an independent nation. In most recent years, Chinese drills around the island have also raised concern and tensions between the nations. This seems to be the core reasoning behind developing this 3D printed ‘drone army.’

Drones, or as they are more technically known unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), are aircraft that can be used for a number of different applications including surveillance, delivery of medical supplies and even weapon deployment. They are so important that the Taiwanese Ministry of Defense proposed that it would spend $175 million to acquire 3,200 drones as it seeks to emulate the success in Ukraine. Of course, that means that they will need to find more cost-efficient ways to develop them.

It is for that reason that Taiwanese drone manufacturer Thunder Tiger Group, one of the largest in the country, has partnered with American aerospace firm RapidFlight. The two will be working to create this 3D printed ‘drone army’ as first reported by TheDefensePost. RapidFlight has already used 3D printing for the creation of 3D printed drones.

E2 drones made by RapidFlight with 3D printing (photo credits: RapidFlight)

Though few details have been given about the AM process actually used nor how the final UAVs will look, we do know why additive manufacturing was chosen. According to RapidFlight, additive manufacturing is beneficial for the production of drones as it lowers production costs and can even reduce the storage footprint of UAVs by a factor of 10. This is due to the fact that it will be possible to make critical components as they are needed.

Whether this will be a success remains to be seen. However, it is certainly interesting to see how 3D printed drones are becoming increasingly popular for militaries, especially as a way of engaging with ‘asymmetric warfare.’ We will keep an eye out to see how the situation evolves in the coming months or years.

What do you think of the idea to have a 3D printed drone army? Do you think it is a good strategy for Taiwan? Let us know in a comment below or on our LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter pages! Don’t forget to sign up for our free weekly newsletter here for the latest 3D printing news straight to your inbox! You can also find all our videos on our YouTube channel.

*Cover: A drone made by RapidFusion, though not necessarily in the style that will be used for Taiwan (photo credits: RapidFusion)