Taiwan is actively bolstering its space-based surveillance and defense technologies, engaging with a global network of startups while fostering domestic expertise. This initiative aims to develop systems with potential applications for monitoring the Taiwan Strait, reflecting broader efforts to enhance asymmetric defense capabilities.
The drive is spearheaded by the Taiwan Accelerator Plus (TAcc+) program, managed by the government-backed Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI) and supported by the Ministry of Economic Affairs. Since launching an International SpaceTech Startup Supporting Program in 2023, TAcc+ has worked with 42 startups focused on satellites, rocket engines, and geospatial equipment, facilitating partnerships with Taiwan's established information and communication technology (ICT) manufacturers for production.
Local Firms and Dual-Use Technologies
Among the Taiwanese companies receiving government support is BaseTech, founded in 2021. The firm produces high-precision telescope mounts capable of tracking objects from a few hundred to 2,000 kilometers in space, as well as swarms of military drones. "Our HawkView Monitoring System can be applied in airspace security, maritime and port security," said Henry Chen, a senior manager at BaseTech. "It can track drones, airplanes and birds at a distance over 15 kilometers and use artificial intelligence to scan the objects automatically."
Chen demonstrated the system tracking over 300 birds in real time in Kenting, at Taiwan's southern tip, noting it can also monitor ships and generate high-resolution footage to identify vessel types. BaseTech is also developing free-space optical (FSO) communication systems, a sensitive dual-use technology that uses lasers for data transmission between satellites and ground stations, which has both civilian and military applications. Chen confirmed the company has deployed systems to the Taiwan Space Agency (TASA) and the island's Air Force and Navy, and is now seeking customers in Europe.
Aligning with a "Hellscape" Defense Concept
This technological push dovetails with strategic discussions in Washington. A recent report from the Center for a New American Security proposed that Taiwan adopt a "hellscape" defense strategy, utilizing vast numbers of drones and uncrewed systems to counter a potential invasion. The concept envisions a layered defense: long-range drones striking forces 80-40 km from shore; sea mines and one-way attack drones engaging targets 35-5 km out; and short-range drones attacking within 5 km of the coastline.
Such a strategy would depend heavily on robust space technology for surveillance, tracking, and communication. This underscores the strategic logic behind Taiwan's space-tech acceleration, which seeks to create a resilient, multi-domain deterrent. The development of drone-launched mine systems, for instance, could play a key role in such a layered defense, a topic explored in our analysis of China's drone-launched mines and their potential to encircle Taiwan.
"In the past, we focused mainly on ICT, but now we are shifting to the space sector," said Jessi Fu, head of global partnership at ITRI. The TAcc+ program invites international firms for month-long stays, providing business-to-business meetings and introductions to Taiwan's ICT ecosystem. Last year, five UK startups signed memorandums of understanding with Taiwanese partners through the program.
International Partnerships and Localization
One participant, HEX20, an Indian-Australian small satellite maker, signed an agreement with TaiCrystal International Technology Co., which specializes in space-grade power chips. "Taiwan is well known for high-end electronics and precision manufacturing. But all these electronics must go through some special fine-tuning before they are sent to space," said Lloyd Lopez, co-founder and CEO of HEX20. "India's more than 60 years of experience in space technology can be applied in Taiwan."
Another, U.S.-based Slingshot Aerospace, which provides AI solutions for satellite tracking and space traffic management, established a Taiwan unit to serve the Asia-Pacific and Southeast Asian markets. These collaborations highlight Taiwan's strategy of integrating global innovation with its manufacturing prowess.
Calls for greater localization of foreign space-defense technology have grown amid sustained cross-strait tensions and uncertainties over the consistency of U.S. military support. This context makes indigenous capability development a strategic imperative for Taipei. The broader regional security landscape, including evolving U.S. counterterrorism strategy and its implications for Asian security, further complicates the strategic calculus for Taiwan and its partners.
Taiwan's space and dual-use tech drive represents a concrete step toward building a more resilient and technologically sophisticated defense posture. By leveraging its ICT strengths and fostering international partnerships, the island is working to develop the sensors, communication links, and unmanned systems that could form the backbone of a next-generation, asymmetric defense strategy.
