Taiwan launches first civil defense drone training program. Tang Tsung-yi, a spokesperson for Kuma Academy, the civil protection NGO that provides the training, said the course teaches novice drone pilots what drones can do on a battlefield. The course is part of a broader effort to increase knowledge about drones in Taiwan.
Source: The Guardian
The goal is not to arm civilians, but to give them a more active role in observing risks and sharing information, Tang says of the training program. “I may not be a soldier, but in the event of a Chinese invasion I want to help as a civilian,” said an anonymous participant who works at a defense company. Kuma Academy’s classes are fully booked until August. About 75 people can be trained every month.
Pan Chien-chin (48) is one of the participants. “The war in Ukraine has really changed the way drones are used,” he says. “It’s like I’ve taught myself a new skill that I can use if the need ever arises.” Karren Wang (65) also takes the lessons. “Given my age, this is one of the best ways to contribute in a crisis situation,” she says.
The drones weigh less than 100 grams, are produced entirely in Taiwan and do not have GPS or self-driving technology. Operators must learn to fly by sight and manual reflexes, because commercial drones can fail due to electronic interference. Taiwan also wants to build a “China-free” drone supply chain. A recent defense budget did cut funding for domestic drone production.
Weapons production
Taiwan produces some of its own weapons, but remains dependent on American supplies for important defense systems. Donald Trump has not yet signed the $14 billion arms package for the island, despite his meeting with Chinese leader Xi Jinping last month. For citizens like Pan, political divisions and uncertainty about the relationship with the US reinforce the desire to participate in civil defense. “We can’t change the broader context, so all we can do is prepare as best we can,” says Pan.
According to Taiwan’s Civil Aviation Authority, more than 39,000 drones had been registered as of December last year. Young people are also trained to fly drones. Some high schools in Taipei are organizing summer camps where students build and use drones for search and rescue operations. In 2024, the minimum age for drone registration was lowered to 14 years.