Poway’s General Atomics to build four drones that Taiwan can use monitor military threats from China

Poway’s General Atomics Aeronautical Systems will receive up to $217.6 million to build four MQ-9B SkyGuardian unmanned aerial vehicles for Taiwan, which will use them to help watch for a possible invasion by China. The money will come from the U.S. Defense Department, which says it will sell the drones to Taiwan to help it maintain its status as a largely self-governing nation. President Joe Biden has said that Taiwan deserves to remain free and vowed to defend it against a Chinese invasion. The drones Taiwan will receive from General Atomics are among the most sophisticated remotely-operated vehicles that the company develops. They also can be configured for electronic warfare, anti-surface warfare and search-and-rescue operations.