Minister of National Defense Wellington Koo Li-hsiung visited units participating in the field-training phase of the “Han Kuang 42 Exercise” in Taoyuan today. He reviewed the tactical employment of drones for battlefield surveillance and reconnaissance, intelligence transmission, and strikes, as well as the use of 3D-printing technology for “battlefield additive manufacturing ” of drone components. He also thanked participating service members for their tireless efforts.
Accompanied by Vice Minister of National Defense Hsu Szu-chien, Vice Chief of the General Staff (Executive) General Huang Chih-wei, and other officials, Minister Koo first received battlefield briefings from the operational sector command and drone units. He then observed personnel operating various types of drones to conduct battlefield surveillance, reconnaissance, and strikes. He also discussed plans for wartime defense in depth, successive resistance operations, and wartime transportation control with senior officers. Minister Koo later visited a drone unit’s tactical position, where he inspected its 3D-printing equipment and reviewed its processes and capacity for “battlefield additive manufacturing ”.
Minister Koo said drone operations require the integrated planning of surveillance, reconnaissance, intelligence transmission, command and control, and strike capabilities according to the operational environment and mission requirements. These capabilities must be closely aligned with operational concepts, while different types of weapons and equipment should be employed flexibly to enhance battlefield awareness, real-time response, and precision-strike capabilities, thereby maximizing overall operational effectiveness. Relevant units should develop capabilities for battlefield additive manufacturing , rapid repair, and resupply. Technologies such as 3D printing can support a distributed, rapid, and sustainable maintenance and replenishment mechanism. These capabilities should also be repeatedly validated through exercises to strengthen operational resilience and sustainability .
Later, Minister Koo visited an Air Force unit to review its operational capabilities, force deployment, protective force disposition, and defensive area of responsibility. He provided guidance on the employment of combat power and firepower, the maintenance of command-and-control links, and protection of defensive positions. These efforts are intended to strengthen units’ mobile deployment, backup capabilities , and sustained operational capabilities in response to enemy threats and changing battlefield conditions, ensuring the effective execution of all operational missions.