Inspired by Ukraine, Taiwan’s citizens are taking drone controls into their own hands as they prepare for the possibility of conflict with China. While no one knows whether civilian drone training would prove decisive in a war, the growing movement is changing something equally important: public awareness of the threat and the willingness of ordinary people to contribute to their country’s defense.

A New Kind of Civil Defense

In a crowded classroom in Taipei, first-time drone pilot Pan Chien-chin carefully steadied a small drone before guiding it through a course marked by traffic cones. When he completed the exercise without crashing, the room erupted in applause.

Pan was not learning a new hobby. He had enrolled in Taiwan’s first civilian drone defense course because he believes the security environment around the island has fundamentally changed.

“The war in Ukraine has really changed how drones are used,” said the 48-year-old food company worker. “It’s like giving myself another skill, something I can use if it’s ever needed one day.”

That mindset is becoming increasingly common. Rather than leaving national defense solely to the military, growing numbers of Taiwanese are learning practical skills that could help their communities during a crisis. Drone operation has become one of the newest additions to that effort.

Learning from Ukraine

Ukraine’s war against Russia has transformed military thinking worldwide. Small, inexpensive drones have become one of the most influential tools on the battlefield.

Military officials estimate drones now account for roughly 60 percent of Russian soldiers killed or wounded. Thousands of drone missions are flown every day, demonstrating how relatively inexpensive unmanned aircraft can challenge much larger military forces.

Taiwan’s civil defense organizations have taken notice.

Kuma Academy, the nonprofit operating Taiwan’s civilian drone program, launched its first classes in May to help ordinary citizens understand how drones might be used during a conflict.

According to Kuma Academy spokesman Tang Tsung-yi, the objective is not to arm civilians. Instead, participants can “move from passive defence like sheltering to a more active role in observing risks and sharing information.”

The program reflects a broader shift toward resilience and preparedness rather than simply waiting for government agencies to respond.

A Growing National Movement

Drone education is expanding alongside Taiwan’s broader civil defense movement.

More than thirty volunteer-led civil defense organizations now operate across the island, offering instruction in first aid, casualty evacuation, emergency response, and drone operations.

Taiwan now has more than 39,000 registered drones, according to the Civil Aviation Administration. Officials also lowered the minimum registration age to fourteen, while some Taipei high schools now teach students how to assemble drones and use them in search and rescue exercises.

Demand has been overwhelming. Kuma Academy’s classes are sold out through August despite training only about 75 students each month.

Everyone Can Contribute

One of the program’s strengths is its diversity.

Teenagers train alongside retirees, and more than half of the participants are women.

For 65-year-old retiree Karren Wang, learning to fly drones offers one of the best ways she can contribute during a national emergency.

After completing her first lesson, she praised the supportive atmosphere.

“Even if you crashed terribly, they would still say: ‘Great job.'”

Several students had already completed first aid and casualty evacuation courses before adding drone operations to their skill set.

Another participant, who works for a defense company, explained the motivation simply: “I may not be a soldier, but if [a China invasion] ever happened here, as a citizen, I’d like to have the ability to help in some way.”

Training for Modern Warfare

Taiwan’s instructors deliberately use lightweight drones built entirely in Taiwan without GPS navigation or autonomous flight capabilities.

The reason comes directly from Ukraine’s battlefield experience. Electronic jamming can disable automated systems, forcing operators to rely on manual flying skills and visual references.

The approach also supports Taiwan’s effort to reduce dependence on Chinese drone technology by encouraging domestic manufacturing and homegrown expertise.

For many Taiwanese, uncertainty over both domestic politics and future American support has strengthened the desire to prepare themselves.

Pan summarized that feeling succinctly.

“We can’t change the broader environment, so the only thing we can do is prepare ourselves as best we can.”

Ukraine’s Drone Industry Looks East

Ukraine is exporting more than battlefield lessons. Its drone manufacturers are actively seeking partnerships across Asia as countries prepare for a more dangerous security environment.

Companies including UFORCE, Skyeton, General Cherry, and Swarmer are pursuing partnerships with Japan and Taiwan.

UFORCE CEO Oleg Rogynskyy believes East Asia faces strategic conditions similar to those Ukraine has experienced.

“While the maritime geography of East Asia is very different, the impact is extremely similar,” he said.

Former Japanese Defense Minister Itsunori Onodera welcomed cooperation with Ukrainian firms, saying Japan needs equipment “that is actually demonstrating effective power.”

Japan has committed nearly $2 billion to drone systems this year and plans to increase annual drone production from roughly 1,000 aircraft in 2024 to 80,000 by the end of the decade.

A Regional Network Takes Shape

Taiwan has also become an important manufacturing partner.

Ukraine’s drone association, IRON, recently led a delegation to Taiwan’s industrial hub of Taichung to identify suppliers of cameras, microelectronics, and other drone components.

Some cooperation is already advancing beyond supply chains. Taiwan’s Jiin Ming Industry confirmed it is working with a Ukrainian partner on a drone project that could eventually be sold back to Taiwan.

The Philippines is also exploring cooperation with Ukraine on drone technology as tensions with China continue to rise. Several Ukrainian executives believe drones supplied to Manila would likely be manufactured in Japan, combining Japanese industrial capacity with Ukrainian battlefield expertise.

American military planners also see drones playing a central role in any future conflict around Taiwan. Admiral Samuel Paparo has argued that large numbers of drones could create an “unmanned hellscape” capable of slowing an invasion long enough for allied forces to respond.

More Than Military Training

Whether civilian drone operators would significantly influence the outcome of a Chinese invasion remains uncertain.

What is already clear is that Taiwan’s growing drone movement is accomplishing something beyond military preparation.

Thousands of ordinary citizens are becoming more aware of the security challenges facing their country while learning practical skills that could help their communities in a crisis.

For participants like Pan and Wang, learning to fly a drone is less about becoming soldiers than becoming prepared citizens. Even if these volunteers never face the situation they are preparing for, Taiwan’s expanding drone culture is creating a population that is more informed, more engaged, and more conscious of the challenges that lie ahead.