technology
Taiwanese Drone Maker Thunder Tiger Wins U.S. Military Approval for China-Free Supply Chain
Thunder Tiger, based near Taichung Airport on Taiwan’s western coast, became the first Asian firm to win U.S. clearance for China-free drones in September 2025. General manager Gene Su highlighted cost asymmetries observed in Ukraine and Iran as the company produces low-cost AI-enabled suicide drones approved by the Pentagon.
May 8, 9:00 AM·1m read1 source
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U.S. military use with a China-free supply chain in September 2025. U.S. Department of Defense last year. Kinling Lo visited Thunder Tiger last month before 8 May 2026 after joining a group of foreign journalists bused in for a briefing arranged by Taiwan’s foreign ministry.
U.S. Logistics hub during the Vietnam War. U.S. military training exercises four decades ago.
U.S. Lucas drones used in Iran. U.S. Tomahawk cruise missiles.
Su said the company’s “Overkill” drone costs around $3,000 to $5,000 each. “That asymmetry is what we’re learning from Ukraine and Iran. We don’t need high-end missiles. We just need low-cost drones,” Su said.
The Taiwanese government started pushing for producing homegrown drones in 2022 when Russia invaded Ukraine. It aims to produce roughly 180,000 homegrown drones by 2028. Taiwan is building an alliance that now has more than 260 members from component makers to finished-drone producers, with mostly Taiwan-based suppliers, all building toward a China-free supply chain.
Thunder Tiger used to source 30% of its components — mainly motors and cameras — from China before switching its supply chain to local and American vendors. U.S. budget to a third.
U.S. President Donald Trump meets Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing next week after 8 May 2026. U.S. Has confirmed Taiwan is likely to be on the agenda for that meeting. The article detailing Lo’s visit was published on 8 May 2026.
