Taiwan unveils new long range and hand-launched surveillance drones

The Rui Yuan (Sharp Hawk) unmanned aerial vehicle of the ROC Navy. Photo c/o Sam Yeh / AFP

The Republic of China (Taiwan) Navy (ROCN) displayed its new long range surveillance drone, called the Rui Yuan (Sharp Hawk), last 24 January 2019.

It was claimed by Taiwanese officials that the drone can fly up to 12 hours and could help monitor movements in the Taiwan Strait and other disputed areas.

In an interview by the Agence France-Presse (AFP), Taiwan defense ministry spokesman Chen Chung-chi said that “The drones are now an irreplaceable part of our reconnaissance strategy” and that “they are our primary option for activities in the strait”.

Aside from the Rui Yuan, Taiwan also unveiled a hand-launched battlefield surveillance drone called the “Cardinal” which could stay airborne for an hour.



[1] Agence France-Presse
[2] Shephard Media
[3] Rappler