Delegates from the US defense sector visit Taiwan in search of new chances for collaboration, with prominent Taiwanese firms advocating for combined R&D while emphasizing the necessity of communication and working around US export constraints. 

US Defense industry delegates, led by former US Marine Corps commanding general Steven R. Rudder, are visiting Taiwan to explore further cooperation opportunities between the US and Taiwanese defense industries. At the 2023 US-Taiwan Defense Industry Forum, Rudder emphasized the need to include smaller companies in the defense supply chain and mentioned the buildup of interoperability between US and Taiwanese armed forces as a direction of cooperation. Leading Taiwanese drone and fighter jet manufacturers called for joint R&D, expanded training, technology transfers, and boosting Taiwan’s local drone production capacity. AIDC, Taiwan’s largest defense prime contractor, suggested that those eager to participate in Taiwan’s defense supply chain develop in accordance with the country’s defense industrial policy, with potential US-Taiwan cooperation opportunities in fields such as engine, avionics, flight control, and environmental control systems. Upfront communication and readily available business plans were identified as key to successful cooperation, alongside the need to work around US export controls on certain technologies. 

Source: https://www.digitimes.com/news/a20230503VL205/taiwan-us-defense-drone-lockheed-martin-military.html