The United States has completed delivery of 291 Altius-600M loitering munitions to Taiwan, reinforcing Taipei’s asymmetric defence posture amid ongoing tensions with China.
Approved in June 2024, deliveries took place between August 2025 and early 2026. The Altius-600M, developed by Anduril Industries, is a modular system capable of conducting intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, electronic warfare, and precision strike missions.
The platform offers up to four hours of endurance and a reported range of approximately 440 kilometres. Its modular payload architecture enables rapid reconfiguration for different operational roles, reflecting a broader shift toward flexible, multi-mission unmanned systems.
The acquisition forms part of Taiwan’s wider effort to prioritise survivable, cost-effective capabilities designed to counter a larger adversary. Loitering munitions are seen as particularly effective in targeting high-value assets while supporting distributed operations.
The delivery complements ongoing US support, including Abrams tanks, HIMARS rocket systems, and Harpoon anti-ship missiles, aimed at strengthening Taiwan’s deterrence and resilience in a potential cross-strait contingency.
The programme also highlights Anduril’s expanding role in supplying unmanned systems to US allies, as demand grows for scalable and adaptable capabilities in modern conflict environments.
