Taiwan's first two MQ-9B "Reaper" drones completed their debut test flights in Hualien, a boost for the island's defense but a reminder that its drone industry is hemmed in by a shortage of testing grounds.

• The first two American-made MQ-9B drones flew successfully in Hualien, Taiwan's first use of the long-range armed surveillance aircraft.
• Taichung Mayor Lu Shiu-yen said central Taiwan is the island's biggest drone research and manufacturing hub but has no approved test flight site.
• Only Chiayi and Kaohsiung are approved for drone test flights, so central Taiwan makers must truck finished drones south, then haul them back for fixes.
• Lu called the back-and-forth a drag on Taiwan's push to build its own defense industry and asked the central government to approve more sites quickly.
• She wants test fields in the north and near the Hsinchu science park too, where more production capacity sits.

Outlook: Pressure is building on Taipei to open more drone test sites as Taiwan scales up domestic production alongside newly delivered US drones.