The National Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology (NCSIST) in Taiwan, in partnership with US defense firm Kratos, has successfully conducted testing of the integrated Mighty Hornet IV attack drone.
The evaluation verified that the payload and mission systems developed by NCSIST operated seamlessly with the Mighty Hornet IV without necessitating any redesign, following a comprehensive series of planning phases, engineering efforts, and subsystem assessments.
The results establish a technical foundation for a planned flight test later this year and further support the joint ambition to mass-produce the system in Taiwan for deterrence and operational use.
According to Steve Fendley, head of Kratos’ Unmanned Systems Division, the outcome confirms both the soundness of the technical approach and the effectiveness of the bilateral collaboration.
Platform Overview
Introduced at the Taipei Aerospace & Defense Technology Exhibition in September 2025, the Mighty Hornet IV is based on the MQM-178 Firejet target drone.
The Firejet platform has proven its adaptability and dependability in demonstrations involving manned-unmanned teaming concepts and loitering munition applications.
The modified Mighty Hornet IV can be configured for intelligence, surveillance, decoy, strike, or target roles. It is capable of reaching speeds of Mach 0.8, flying up to 1,000 kilometers, and operating at altitudes above 35,000 feet.
