Taiwan to jointly develop new C2 systems with US SME

US-based SME Vatn Systems and Taiwan have agreed to jointly develop new AI-enabled command and control systems, to help modernise the country’s naval capabilities.  

Announced by Vatn Systems on 11 August, the agreement will see the company work with Taiwan’s National Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology to design the systems on behalf of the country’s defence ministry. 

Speaking to DSEI Gateway, Nelson Mills, CEO of Vatn Systems, said that the new command and control systems will build on the company’s existing product lines. This includes, for example, the company’s Aesir decision-layer system, which combines detection and tracking information from multiple maritime sensors into a single operational view.  

Further collaboration 

In addition to developing command and control systems, Taiwan will field autonomous undersea vehicles (AUVs) from Vatn Systems, such as its modular S12 AUV. According to the company, S12 can be used for survey, mapping, inspection, payload delivery, or intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance missions. 

Taiwan and Vatn Systems have also agreed to strengthen “supply chain and sustainment support” in the country.  

“Undersea superiority is vitally important to Taiwanese deterrence,” Mills told DSEI Gateway. “This agreement will help develop localised capability and an industrial base for undersea drones in Taiwan.”