TAIPEI — Taiwan has resolved a logistics issue involving the charging equipment for its first batch of U.S.-made ALTIUS-600M loitering munitions, after the original chargers were excluded because they contained Chinese-made components.
Charger Excluded Over Supply-Chain Rules
The Republic of China Army (ROCA) received its first 291 ALTIUS-600M systems under the “Hunter Owl” project. The first deliveries were reported in August 2025 and the full delivery was completed by early 2026.
The original chargers were not included in the U.S. Letter of Offer and Acceptance (LOA) because their components did not meet Taiwan’s “non-red” supply-chain policy, which excludes Chinese-made components from sensitive defense systems.
The drones arrived with their batteries fully charged. Each system included one installed battery and one spare, with the batteries designed to retain their charge for up to two years.
U.S. Personnel Supported Charging
While a compliant charger was being developed, U.S. technical personnel traveled to Taiwan to recharge the systems when required. The Army said charging support was included in the original LOA and was provided without additional cost.
Anduril Industries, the manufacturer of the ALTIUS family, has now completed a charger that meets the non-PRC supply-chain requirement. Delivery of the new chargers is expected under the established procurement schedule.
Taiwan Begins Local Battery Production
Taiwan and the United States have also established a non-red supply chain for ALTIUS batteries. Technology transfer has taken place, and a Taiwanese manufacturer has begun producing compatible batteries locally.
DPP legislator Wang Ting-yu said the arrangement could eventually allow Taiwanese companies to supply batteries and chargers to other Anduril customers that require non-PRC components.
KMT legislator Ma Wen-chun, meanwhile, questioned the logistics arrangements and the planned quantity of spare batteries. She noted that the spare battery inventory for the 291 systems was nearly eight times the number of airframes. The Army has requested a reduction in the spare battery order, which remains under U.S. review.
Taiwan Orders 2,032 More ALTIUS Systems
The charger issue comes as Taiwan expands its unmanned weapons inventory through a NT$26.9 billion procurement of 2,032 additional ALTIUS systems.
The order includes:
- 1,554 ALTIUS-700M anti-armor attack drones
- 478 ALTIUS-600ISR intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance drones
Taiwan's Ministry of National Defense announced the contract at the end of August 2026. Initial deliveries are expected to begin in the fourth quarter of 2026, with the procurement scheduled for completion by June 2033.
The expansion follows earlier ALTIUS-600M live-fire testing against maritime targets, during which Taiwan reported a 100 percent hit rate.
The development of a compliant charger and local battery production is expected to address the supply-chain issue identified with the first ALTIUS-600M delivery as Taiwan moves ahead with its larger procurement.
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