Taiwan Unveils Kaui-Chi Attack USV with Swarm and UAV-Launch Capabilities

Taiwan’s National Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology (NCSIST), the main weapons research and development body under the Ministry of National Defense (MND), has revealed a new-generation attack unmanned surface vessel (USV) named the Kaui-Chi at the Taipei Aerospace & Defense Technology Exhibition (TADTE) 2025.

The Kaui-Chi USV, earlier known as Project Kaui-Chi (快奇專案), has been in development for several years and was observed in sea trials along Pingtung and Yilan earlier this year. According to Taiwanese defense reports, the vessel passed combat evaluation in June 2025 and later successfully destroyed a target ship during a joint sea-and-air missile-firing drill in August.

Innovative UAV-Launch Tactics

One of the standout features of the Kaui-Chi is its ability to launch UAVs directly from a USV. During trials, it demonstrated this tactic by deploying Mighty Hornet I (勁蜂I型) attack drones, which struck the designated target. This innovation gives Taiwan the option of combined swarm tactics, where multiple USVs can operate together, supported by drone strikes, overwhelming enemy ships and coastal defenses.

Compact but Lethal

Officially designated the Small, Fast USV (小型快速無人艇), the Kaui-Chi was designed under MND’s joint-operations guidance to meet Taiwan’s defense needs in coastal waters. The vessel is described as:

• Small, fast, and stealthy, making it difficult to detect.

• Highly maneuverable, able to perform evasive and aggressive maneuvers.

• Cost-effective, allowing for mass production and deployment in large numbers.

• Lethal, with the ability to ram enemy ships at high speed or coordinate strikes with UAVs.

The Kaui-Chi fits into Taiwan’s strategy of asymmetric warfare, where the island relies on low-cost but effective systems to counter numerically superior adversaries. Military analysts believe such USV swarms could be critical in defending Taiwan’s coastline against amphibious invasion attempts.

The Mighty Hornet I Loitering Munition

Alongside the USV, NCSIST also showcased the Mighty Hornet I, a compact loitering munition designed for precision strikes beyond visual range (BVR). Features include:

• Man-portable system for rapid deployment.

• Folding wings and pneumatic launch capability.

• Around 15 minutes of endurance with an 8 km strike range.

• Image-recognition and tracking systems to engage both moving and stationary targets.

The Mighty Hornet I adds a flexible and precise strike option to the Kaui-Chi USV, making the pairing a force multiplier in modern naval warfare.

Strategic Significance

With the unveiling of the Kaui-Chi at TADTE 2025, Taiwan has signaled its determination to push forward in autonomous warfare technologies. By integrating USVs, UAVs, and swarm tactics, Taiwan’s defense industry is showing that it can innovate solutions tailored to its geostrategic challenges.

Military experts suggest that the Kaui-Chi USV, if deployed in numbers, could form a vital component of Taiwan’s maritime defense network, deterring hostile fleets and complicating enemy planning in the event of conflict.