British-Ukrainian Drone Unicorn Uforce Expands East Asia Ties, Targeting Taiwan and Japan to Bolster Supply Chains

A drone manufacturer with deep roots in Ukraine’s war effort is quietly expanding its industrial relationships in East Asia, with Taiwan and Japan emerging as priority partners as the company looks to strengthen supply chains and cooperation beyond Europe.

Uforce, a British-Ukrainian defense technology firm known for producing drones proven in combat during Ukraine’s resistance to Russia’s full-scale invasion, has grown into a so-called “unicorn,” a privately held startup valued at $1 billion. Now the company is seeking to translate that battlefield experience into closer collaboration with Taiwan’s defense ecosystem and, separately, with Japanese industry, according to a senior executive.

The push was on display in early November in Tainan, in southern Taiwan, where Sean Plankey, Uforce’s U.S.-based chief executive, appeared at a maritime drone forum organized by the Taiwanese think tank DSET. The event highlighted the growing interest in unmanned systems—especially naval and coastal drones—among Taiwanese researchers and defense stakeholders, as the island works to bolster deterrence capabilities in the face of rising regional security pressure.

Plankey’s presence also underscored a diplomatic reality: while Ukraine and Taiwan do not maintain formal relations, practical ties can develop through technology, industry contacts, and third-party cooperation. In the defense sector, these connections may be especially discreet, shaped by sensitivities around geopolitics and the constraints that come with Taiwan’s international status.

Uforce’s interest in Taiwan reflects a broader recognition of the island’s manufacturing depth and the role its companies play in global electronics and components supply chains—an attractive proposition for a drone maker that must scale production, secure reliable parts, and harden logistics against disruption. For Taiwan, learning from Ukraine’s wartime adaptation has become increasingly relevant as the island studies how low-cost, rapidly produced drones can change the balance in modern conflict.

Japan is also part of Uforce’s Asia strategy. The executive said the company aims to expand cooperation there as well, pointing to Tokyo’s importance as a potential industrial and supply chain partner. Japan’s capabilities in advanced manufacturing and its expanding focus on defense innovation make it a natural target for firms seeking resilient, high-quality production networks.

Uforce’s outreach offers a glimpse into how Ukraine’s defense-technology sector—sharpened and accelerated under the pressure of an existential war—is now looking outward. Companies that rose quickly during the conflict are increasingly seeking international partnerships to stabilize supply chains, diversify production options, and bring frontline-tested products to new security-conscious markets.

Why it matters

Ukraine’s war has become a proving ground for drones and other fast-evolving defense technologies, and firms like Uforce are now exporting that experience through industrial partnerships. For Taiwan and Japan, deeper supply chain ties with a battle-tested drone maker could accelerate local capabilities and resilience. The key question going forward is how far these collaborations can go given geopolitical sensitivities and the often indirect nature of Ukraine-Taiwan engagement.