Taiwan Coast Guard buys MARTAC Devil Ray T24 drones

Taiwan’s Coast Guard Administration is acquiring an undisclosed number of MARTAC Devil Ray T24 unmanned surface vessels in a deal announced Oct. 13, 2026. The co-production program spans Florida and Taiwan and marks one of the largest international purchases of U.S.-made USVs to date.

Why it matters: - The Taiwan Coast Guard Administration is adding unmanned surface vessels to strengthen coastal defense and maritime domain awareness. - The deal is one of the largest international purchases of U.S.-manufactured unmanned surface vessels to date. - The co-production model ties U.S. manufacturing with Taiwanese industrial development. - The purchase adds another allied customer for U.S.-made autonomous maritime systems in the Indo-Pacific.

What happened: - Maritime Tactical Systems, Inc. announced that Taiwan’s Coast Guard Administration is acquiring an undisclosed number of Devil Ray T24 autonomous surface vessels. - The announcement was made Oct. 13, 2026, in Melbourne, Florida. - The sale followed a tripartite memorandum of understanding signed by MARTAC, the National Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology and Confucian Co., Ltd. during the 2025 Taipei Aerospace & Defense Technology Exhibition. - Confucian serves as MARTAC’s local partner in Taiwan, and NCSIST is Taiwan’s state-owned defense research and development institution.

The details: - The agreement uses a co-production model. - Some USVs will be manufactured at a MARTAC strategic partner facility in Edgewater, Florida. - The remainder will be built by Confucian in Taiwan. - The partnership is intended to strengthen Taiwan’s domestic industrial base while using MARTAC’s design and manufacturing expertise. - The Devil Ray T24 is a 27.5-foot, or 8.4-meter, autonomous surface vessel. - The platform can reach burst speeds above 50 knots. - The T24 is designed for coast guard and military missions in complex maritime environments. - The co-production arrangement is projected to create workforce development opportunities in both the United States and Taiwan. - The deal is also expected to support supply chain integration and technology-sharing efforts tied to the original MOU.

Between the lines: - MARTAC is using foreign co-production to make its systems more attractive to allied buyers. - Taiwan’s first USV program appears to be a higher-priority defense effort, given the attention described from senior government leadership. - The purchase signals continued demand for smaller, autonomous maritime platforms that can be adapted for coastal security missions. - Seamus Flatley, MARTAC’s chief growth officer, called the acquisition a landmark moment for the company and for USV adoption in the Indo-Pacific. - James Lee, chief executive of Confucian, said Taiwan selected MARTAC in part because of MARTAC’s early willingness to establish co-production in Taiwan.

What’s next: - The number of vessels, delivery timing and production split were not disclosed. - MARTAC, Confucian and NCSIST will likely move from agreement framework to manufacturing and delivery. - The co-production model may serve as a template for additional defense procurement in Taiwan and other allied markets. - MARTAC said the sale reinforces its position as a supplier of USV systems to allied nations.

The bottom line: - Taiwan is pairing a first-of-its-kind coast guard USV program with local industrial participation, while MARTAC gains a marquee Indo-Pacific customer for its Devil Ray platform.