Taiwan, in partnership with the American company Kratos, is developing the Chien Feng IV, a jet-powered kamikaze drone derived from the MQM-178 Firejet.
Focused on long-range, low-cost attacks, the project is led by the Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology (NCSIST) and may, in the future, offer export opportunities in addition to use by Taiwanese armed forces. The drone will be officially unveiled at the Taipei Aerospace & Defense Technology Exhibition this month.
The Chien Feng IV stands out by combining features of kamikaze drones, cruise missiles, and decoys. With compact dimensions, an internal payload capacity of up to 70 kg, and a flight endurance of over an hour, it can operate at altitudes between 6,000 and 10,000 meters and speeds close to Mach 0.7.
Derived from the Airwolf/Firejet, the drone can also be configured for additional roles such as electronic warfare and communication signal relay, in addition to strike missions.
The project reflects global trends in long-range attack drones, driven by recent conflicts such as the war in Ukraine and Middle Eastern clashes. With US support, Taiwan has been expanding its arsenal of unmanned platforms as part of the “Hellscape” plan, which aims to saturate skies and waters in the event of a Chinese invasion. If adopted on a large scale, the Chien Feng IV could extend the reach of this plan while drawing international interest for its advanced jet-powered kamikaze drone capabilities.
Source: The War Zone | Photo: X @Roaastudies | This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team
The NCSIST will display Chin Feng IV, a cruise missile based on the Kratos MQM-178 Firejet target drone with a range of around 1,000 km, at the Taipei Aerospace and Defense Technology Exhibition.
(Liberty Times) pic.twitter.com/D1dOMa0ub1
— Taiwan Defense News Tracker 🇹🇼 (@TaiwansDefense) August 24, 2025
