Sponsors (4)
Introduced March 26, 2026 by Jeff Merkley · Last progress March 26, 2026
The bill strengthens U.S. and allied UAS supply‑chain resilience and creates export and co‑development opportunities by prioritizing PRC‑independent Taiwanese suppliers, at the cost of higher and potentially open‑ended government spending, increased administrative and vetting burdens, reduced market competition in some areas, and heightened geopolitical risk with China.
U.S. and allied militaries gain access to PRC‑independent UAS components, reducing supply‑chain and cybersecurity risk and improving operational interoperability.
Strengthening Taiwan's asymmetric defenses and defense ties improves deterrence and regional stability that protects American strategic interests in the Indo‑Pacific.
Creates export, co‑development, and supplier opportunities for U.S. firms (including small businesses and defense contractors) through U.S.–Taiwan partnerships and faster market access for Taiwanese components.
The bill risks increasing geopolitical tensions with the PRC (and potential escalation or retaliatory measures), because it explicitly builds Taiwan‑linked defense supply chains and limits PRC supplier participation.
It may raise costs for American taxpayers and allies through new procurement, certification, monitoring, and open‑ended spending commitments without explicit caps.
Tying ‘Blue UAS’ status or procurement preference to specific designations (e.g., a DCMA list) or prioritizing Taiwanese suppliers could limit competition and disadvantage other U.S. or allied suppliers.
Based on analysis of 8 sections of legislative text.
Requires U.S. agencies to fast-track certification and build cooperative supply chains for Taiwan-made Blue UAS components, with a working group and reporting, and authorizes necessary funding.
Creates a U.S.-led effort to speed up and secure Taiwan-made drone (UAS) parts and systems for allied defensive use. It directs the State Department, with Defense, to stand up a working group to assess Taiwan’s drone production and barriers, set up a cooperative industrial framework with partners, and establish a fast-track certification and export-review process for Taiwan-made “Blue UAS” components, with reporting requirements and authorized funding to carry out the activities. The bill also directs efforts to identify Taiwan-made components for official U.S. Blue UAS programs, explore co-development/co-production and testing with the U.S. Army Organic Industrial Base, and provide annual reports (including an initial unclassified report within one year). It authorizes Congress to appropriate such sums as necessary to implement the Act and clarifies it does not change existing U.S. policy on Taiwan’s status or the Taiwan Relations Act.