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The Taiwanese military has unveiled its first domestically built unmanned surface vessel (USV), drawing significant inspiration from the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
Named the Endeavor Manta, the 8.6-meter (28-foot) USV was developed by Taiwan’s China Shipbuilding Corporation to enhance the country’s asymmetric warfare capabilities amid escalating tensions with China.
Featuring a fiber-reinforced trimaran hull, the drone boat is designed for stability, particularly in the rough seas of the Taiwan Strait.
It has a payload capacity exceeding one ton, enabling it to carry light torpedoes and high-powered explosives for close combat operations at sea.
The platform boasts a maximum speed of 35 knots (64 kilometers/40 miles per hour) and is equipped with a failsafe that allows it to automatically return to its home port or self-destruct if captured by the enemy.
The uncrewed vessel made its debut earlier this week at Kaohsiung’s Singda Harbor, coinciding with Taiwan’s large-scale military drills focused on countering a potential Chinese invasion.
‘Ukraine-Inspired’
The Endeavor Manta draws from Ukraine’s innovative use of USVs in its conflict with Russia. Ukrainian forces have used USVs for surveillance, intelligence gathering, and surprise attacks on enemy targets.
Notable examples include an August 2023 seaborne drone strike on a Russian navy ship in the Black Sea, and the successful destruction of a Russian speedboat in Crimea in May 2024.
To address potential electronic warfare challenges similar to those faced in Ukraine, Taiwan has equipped the Endeavor Manta with multiple remote control communication modes, ensuring consistent control even in contested environments.
The drone boat also features a swarm control mode, which is crucial for a conflict, as it enables the coordinated operation of multiple unmanned units to overwhelm adversaries.
The Endeavor Manta can be launched from landing platform docks, such as the Yushan-class vessel, which can carry up to 20 USVs. Additionally, a single control station can manage up to 50 Endeavor Mantas simultaneously.