Taiwan’s CSBC eyes more orders for unmanned vessels

台灣台灣國際造船（CSBC）尋求更多無人艇訂單

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — CSBC said it will seek more unmanned vessel orders by adopting a modular design approach to meet military and commercial applications.

CSBC Deputy General Manager Chou Chih-ming (周志明) said the company currently operates a single production line, capable of producing around 40 unmanned ships annually. The modular design of these vessels enables faster production by allowing standardized components to be built in parallel and easily integrated.

Chou said the company's unmanned vessel, the Endeavor Manta, is on display at the Taipei Aerospace and Defense Technology Exhibition, held from Thursday to Saturday. During the event, CSBC will remotely operate the vessel in Kaohsiung Port from its booth in Taipei, per CNA.

The vessel, built from reinforced plastic, measures 8.6 meters in length and 3.7 meters wide. It has a payload capacity of over one tonne and can reach speeds exceeding 35 knots (64.82 kmh). It supports 4G, radio frequencies, and satellite links, and is equipped with features such as swarming, autonomous navigation, and target recognition.

Compared to its initial version unveiled in March, the vessel now features an expanded aft deck for drone takeoffs, landings, and storage, making it more versatile for reconnaissance, surveillance, and rescue missions, Chou added.

Chou also highlighted the vessel's adaptability, noting it can be deployed from various locations, including piers and beaches. The vessel can also be transported aboard the Navy’s Yushan-class Landing Platform Dock, which can carry up to 21 of them. The Yushan-class is primarily used for resupplying offshore islands and conducting disaster relief missions.

CSBC added that the USV can be equipped with lightweight torpedoes, a concept inspired by Ukraine’s use of unmanned vessels to strike Russian warships. Citing military confidentiality, the company declined to reveal details on the size and weight of the torpedoes the ship can carry.