Thunder Tiger Corporation, a local unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) manufacturer, on Sunday unveiled its latest drone product, a flying telecom relay station that it said could help strengthen Taiwan’s defense capabilities.

The T-200 relay helicopter, which the company jointly developed with Chunghwa Telecom Co., can operate in a group at low altitudes to create an airborne telecommunication relay station, Thunder Tiger said in a press release.

Thunder Tiger said the UAV, which President Tsai Ing-wen (???) reviewed on Saturday after she inaugurated a government-run drone R&D facility, could be used for national defense purposes such as border surveillance and patrols.

The helicopter, which can fly for 50 minutes on a single charge, can also help restore telecommunication systems broken during wars or natural disasters, it said.

Home to 20 companies including Thunder Tiger, the newly-opened Asia UAV AI Innovation Application R&D Center in Chiayi County was established as part of Taiwan’s goal to become more independent in developing asymmetric combat capabilities.

There are plans to establish a testing site, a drone operator licensing facility, a drone-related academy, and a national arena for drone-related competitions in the center, according to Tsai.

Source: Focus Taiwan News Channel