Two American drone companies are expanding into Taiwan, a boost for Taiwan's defense industry and a signal of closer US-Taiwan military ties.

• AEVEX is teaming up with Taiwan's Coretronic Intelligent Robotics to build two attack drone models locally, after test flights in Taitung.
• AEVEX will have delivered 10,000 drones by year-end, most battle-tested in Ukraine, and its unmanned boats are already in the hands of Taiwan's Marines.
• Shield AI wants Taiwanese suppliers inside its own supply chain, and is bringing its vertical-takeoff drones in while co-developing a drone fighter jet.
• Shield AI has grown from one employee in Taiwan to eleven, and expects hundreds within five years, mostly local hires.
• Taiwan's navy is budgeting NT$36 billion through 2029 for 280 ship-based drones and support gear, an open tender both firms want.

Outlook: Taiwan's drone makers are being positioned as an export industry, following the same supply-chain playbook that made the island dominant in chips.