TADTE 2025: NCSIST plans to modify, produce Anduril underwater vehicles for Taiwan

Taiwan's National Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology displayed Anduril's Copperhead C‐500M (foreground) and Dive-LD autonomous unmanned vehicles at TADTE 2025. (Janes/Akhil Kadidal)

The National Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology (NCSIST) has said that it will co-produce two Anduril autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) for service with Taiwan's military.

The state-owned institute displayed both AUVs – the Copperhead C-500M and the Dive-LD (large displacement) – during the 2025 edition of the Taipei Aerospace & Defense Technology Exhibition (TADTE) in Taiwan, being conducted from 18 to 20 September.

A project official told Janes on 19 September at the exhibition that NCSIST plans to launch collaborations with Anduril on both platforms in the next few months, and that the institute aims to tailor the AUVs to conform to requirements sought by the Republic of China (RoC) military.

The agreements for both projects will be signed at the end of 2025, the official said. However, he added that details on contract value and potential number of platforms sought by the RoC military remain classified at this time.

According to Anduril, the Dive-LD, which measures 5.8 m in length, 1.2 m in diameter, and weighs 2,720 kg (dry), was developed for littoral and deep-water operations. This includes the ability to conduct intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) missions.

The Dive-LD can remain submerged in water for 10 days and reach a depth of 6,000 m, according to Anduril. The AUV is capable of accommodating various configurations, depending on mission requirements.

Janes understands that NCSIST aims to initiate work with Anduril to adapt the Dive-LD for Taiwan by the end of 2025. “We will customise the platform. It will be integrated with multibeam scan capabilities to detect mines and submarines,” the official said.