Taiwan is expanding efforts to improve civilian drone skills as concerns over military pressure from China drive broader participation in civil defence initiatives, with new training programs drawing interest from citizens seeking practical ways to contribute during a potential crisis.

In a classroom in Taipei, participants of varying ages recently gathered to learn the basics of drone operation under what organizers describe as Taiwan’s first civil defence-focused drone training program. The initiative, launched in May by the civil defence organization Kuma Academy, reflects a growing emphasis on unmanned aerial systems in public preparedness planning and follows lessons drawn from the war in Ukraine, where drones have become a central feature of modern conflict.

The course introduces participants to drone piloting through practical exercises designed to build manual flying skills. Organizers say the objective is not military training but improving public understanding of how drones can be used for observation, information gathering and emergency response in crisis situations.“The war in Ukraine has really changed how drones are used,” said Pan Chien-chin, a 48-year-old employee of a food company attending the program. For Pan, learning to fly a drone represents acquiring a practical skill that could prove useful if Taiwan ever faces a major emergency.

Taiwan’s civil defence movement has expanded significantly in recent years. Alongside drone training, volunteer organizations across the island have increased programs focused on first aid, casualty evacuation and emergency preparedness. More than 30 volunteer-led civil defence groups are currently active, reflecting growing public interest in resilience measures amid a deteriorating regional security environment.

The latest drone initiative comes as Taiwan faces sustained military pressure from China, which claims the self-governed island as its own territory. Beijing has increased military activities around Taiwan in recent years, including large-scale exercises and regular deployments of aircraft and naval vessels near the island.Tang Tsong-yi, a spokesperson for Kuma Academy, said the drone course aims to help participants understand the capabilities and limitations of unmanned systems in contemporary conflicts.

According to Tang, the training allows civilians to move beyond traditional emergency preparedness by gaining skills that could assist in observing risks and sharing information during a crisis.Interest in drone technology has expanded beyond civil defence organizations. Taiwan’s Civil Aviation Administration reported that the number of registered drones surpassed 39,000 by December.

Regulatory changes introduced in 2024 lowered the minimum age for drone registration to 14, widening access to the technology among younger users.Educational institutions have also begun incorporating drone-related activities into their programs. Some high schools in Taipei now organize summer camps where students learn to assemble drones and apply them to search-and-rescue scenarios.

Demand for the new civil defence drone training has been strong. Sessions organized by Kuma Academy have sold out through August, with approximately 75 participants able to be trained each month.The participant profile reflects a broad cross-section of Taiwanese society. During one recent session, trainees included teenagers, working professionals and retirees. Women accounted for more than half of attendees.

Among them was 65-year-old retiree Karren Wang, who said drone operation could offer a meaningful way for older citizens to contribute during emergencies. Wang described the training environment as supportive and accessible for beginners, allowing participants with no prior experience to gain confidence in operating the devices.

Several participants interviewed during the training said they had previously completed first-aid courses and other civil defence programs. The addition of drone skills represents a further expansion of citizen preparedness efforts that have gained momentum across Taiwan in recent years.The growing interest in drones also reflects their evolving role in military operations.

In Ukraine, unmanned aerial systems have become deeply integrated into battlefield tactics, conducting reconnaissance, surveillance and attack missions. Military officials have estimated that drones are responsible for a substantial share of battlefield casualties, underscoring how rapidly the technology has altered modern warfare.

For Taiwan, drones are viewed as potentially valuable in any future emergency because of the island’s geography. Mountainous terrain and dispersed population centers can complicate communications and situational awareness, making unmanned systems useful for surveillance and information gathering.The training drones used in the course weigh less than 100 grams and are manufactured entirely in Taiwan.

Organizers deliberately selected systems without GPS guidance or autonomous flight capabilities. The decision reflects concerns that automated commercial drones could become vulnerable to electronic warfare measures such as signal jamming during armed conflict.Instead, trainees are encouraged to develop manual piloting skills and visual navigation techniques that would remain functional even if satellite-based systems were disrupted.

The emphasis on domestically produced equipment also aligns with broader efforts by Taiwan to strengthen supply chains for drone manufacturing independent of China. Taiwanese authorities and industry stakeholders have sought to position the island as a contributor to alternative global drone production networks at a time when concerns over supply-chain security have become increasingly prominent.

Those efforts, however, face political and budgetary challenges. A recently approved special defence budget passed by Taiwan’s opposition-controlled legislature removed funding designated for domestic drone production, highlighting continuing debates over defence spending priorities.Taiwan remains dependent on the United States for many major defence systems despite maintaining some domestic weapons manufacturing capabilities.

Questions surrounding future security assistance have drawn additional attention following changes in the political landscape in Washington and ongoing discussions regarding arms support for Taiwan.

For some participants, these uncertainties reinforce the importance of individual preparedness. One attendee, who requested anonymity because of employment ties to a defence-related company, said the motivation for joining the program stemmed from a desire to contribute as a citizen despite not serving in the military.

Pan expressed a similar view, saying that while individuals cannot influence broader geopolitical developments, they can take practical steps to prepare themselves.As security concerns continue to shape public debate in Taiwan, civil defence organizations are increasingly incorporating emerging technologies into their training programs, reflecting a wider recognition that skills once associated primarily with military operations are becoming part of broader societal preparedness efforts.

Official trade data showed Taiwan exported 181,159 drones between January and April, almost 20 times the volume recorded during the same period a year earlier and exceeding total exports for all of 2025. The majority of shipments were sent to the Czech Republic and Poland, destinations industry observers believe serve as transit points for equipment ultimately supporting Ukraine’s defense effort.

The sharp rise highlights how the Russia-Ukraine war has transformed the global drone market, with low-cost unmanned aerial vehicles becoming essential tools for reconnaissance, surveillance and precision strikes. The conflict has accelerated military spending worldwide and increased demand for alternative drone suppliers outside China.

Taiwan is positioning itself as an Asian production center for so-called “non-red” drones and components, a term used by industry participants to describe products free from Chinese materials and supply chains. The strategy aligns with broader efforts by Western governments and defense industries to reduce dependence on Chinese technology.

While Taiwanese manufacturers benefit from the island’s advanced electronics ecosystem, including strengths in semiconductors and artificial intelligence, they face significant cost disadvantages. Industry executives say non-Chinese drones can cost up to three times more than comparable products from Chinese manufacturers such as DJI, which dominates the global commercial drone market through large-scale production.

Analysts say overseas sales have become increasingly important for Taiwan’s emerging drone sector because domestic demand remains limited. Samara Duerr, a policy analyst at the Taiwan government-backed Research Institute for Democracy, Society and Emerging Technology, said international markets provide manufacturers with the scale and operational experience needed to expand production capacity.

The export boom also reflects opportunities created by Beijing’s tightening restrictions on drone exports in recent years. Those controls have encouraged foreign buyers to seek alternative suppliers, benefiting Taiwanese firms attempting to establish themselves in global supply chains.

Taiwan’s government has set ambitious targets for the sector, aiming to increase monthly production capacity to 100,000 drones by 2030, significantly above earlier goals. Officials view drone manufacturing as both an economic opportunity and a strategic necessity as Taiwan seeks to strengthen its defense capabilities in the face of military pressure from China.

China claims Taiwan as its territory and has intensified military activity around the island in recent years. Taipei sees the development of a domestic drone industry as part of broader efforts to enhance self-reliance and deterrence.

Industry leaders argue, however, that progress is being constrained by delays in government procurement programs. Plans to acquire more than 200,000 domestically produced drones under a proposed defense package worth nearly $40 billion have been stalled in Taiwan’s opposition-controlled parliament.

Max Lo, chairman of drone manufacturer AeroSoarX, said overseas contracts were essential for maintaining production lines while domestic orders remain uncertain. Taiwanese companies have increasingly pursued customers in Eastern Europe, particularly those involved in supporting Ukraine’s war effort.

Despite strong export growth, industry experts caution that Taiwan faces formidable competition. Ukraine has rapidly developed its own drone manufacturing ecosystem during the war and could emerge as a major exporter once hostilities end. Chinese producers also continue to dominate many segments of the market through lower prices and extensive manufacturing capacity.

Marcin Jerzewski of the European Values Center for Security Policy said one challenge for Taiwanese firms is proving their systems can perform under combat conditions, an area where Ukrainian manufacturers now possess extensive battlefield experience.

Analysts say Taiwan may ultimately find its strongest competitive advantage in specialized drone components rather than complete systems. Artur Savchii of Ukraine’s Snake Island Institute pointed to areas such as lithium-ion cells and advanced electronic components, where Taiwan’s technology sector could help reduce global dependence on Chinese suppliers.

Taiwanese companies are also expanding internationally through partnerships and joint ventures. Drone manufacturer Thunder Tiger has established a venture to produce drone motors in the U.S. state of Ohio and is exploring further expansion into Europe, betting that security concerns over Chinese technology will continue to drive demand for alternative suppliers.