As military tensions rise across the Taiwan Strait, the island is accelerating its shift toward asymmetric warfare by expanding its drone capabilities. A Taiwan-based defense manufacturer, the Thunder Tiger Group, has developed a low-cost attack drone named the “Iron Triangle” in Chinese and “Papa Delta” in English.
According to company statements, the drone is modeled on the American Switchblade loitering munition, which itself is based on the Iranian Shahed drone. The Iron Triangle is designed to deliver offensive capabilities without putting soldiers in the line of fire, following a global trend seen in conflicts from the Russia-Ukraine war to the U.S. and Israel’s operations against Iran.
“Everything is associated with low-cost and mass production,” a Thunder Tiger Group spokesperson said. “A missile is $2 million. This triangle drone we can make in less than NT$1 million — less than $30,000. So this is the thing we have to present to our military. Present to the world.”
The spokesperson emphasized that kamikaze drones like the Iron Triangle have a successful track record in both the Ukraine war and the Iran conflicts, noting that Iranian Shahed drones have been pivotal in retaliation strategies against U.S. and Israeli attacks. Russia also operates its own version of the Shahed, called the Geran.
In addition to aerial drones, the Thunder Tiger Group is moving to develop unmanned surface vessels, signaling a broader expansion into autonomous defense systems. Taiwan’s government is also focusing on drones as part of efforts to bolster the island’s defense against China.
