China envoy’s warning sparks Taiwan panic buy? Taipei plans $1.14B deal for 280 US V-BAT drones

Taiwan’s navy has budgeted about NT$36.01 billion—roughly $1.14 billion—to acquire 280 U.S.-made Shield AI V-BAT vertical-take-off-and-landing drones from 2026 to 2029. The programme includes 140 control systems and 82 transport vehicles, with deliveries planned in batches of 40, 110, 64 and 66 aircraft. Taiwan also plans to procure 32 domestically produced Albatross II UAVs to strengthen maritime surveillance and resilient coastal operations.