Taiwan is buying 210,000 drones to overwhelm an invading fleet's air defenses, a big shift in how the island plans to fight off a Chinese landing.

• The plan is to throw cheap drones at enemy ships in waves until their air-defense systems are worn down.
• Once those defenses are stripped away, Taiwan's HIMARS rockets and Hsiung Feng anti-ship missiles can get through and hit the invasion fleet hard.
• Drones would also watch the sea and sky further out, giving commanders earlier warning of an attack.
• The Navy has set up a new coastal combat command tying anti-ship missiles, radar, and communications into one fast kill chain.
• The Marines are cutting heavy tank and artillery units and standing up drone units instead — their biggest overhaul ever.

Outlook: Taiwan's legislature is set to pass its drone law within days, clearing the way for the buildout.