The US State Department has approved possible Foreign Military Sales (FMS) to Taiwan of National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile Systems (NASAMS) and long-range air surveillance radars, the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) announced on 25 October 2024.
Both FMS cases, which are estimated to be worth USD 1.16 billion (EUR 1.08 billion) and USD 828 million respectively, have been passed to the US Congress for final approval.
Taiwan has requested to buy three NASAMS medium-range air defence solutions that include: three AN/MPQ-64F1 Sentinel radar systems; 123 Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missiles-Extended Range (AMRAAM-ERs); two AMRAAM-C8 guidance sections; four Multifunctional Information Distribution Systems (MIDS); fire distribution centres (FDCs); canister launcher systems; electro-optical/infrared systems; and tactical control centre systems.
Also included in the package are an FDC indoor training simulator; radar communication nodes; MIDS Link 16-capable radios; IPS 250X High Assurance Internet Protocol Encryptions (HAIPE); KIV-77 identification friend-or-foe (IFF) crypto applique systems; AN/PSN-13 Defense Advanced GPS receivers with Selective Availability Anti-Spoofing Modules; AN/PYQ-10 simple key loaders, code loaders and cable sets; AIM-120 control sections and containers; AMRAAM and AMRAAM-ER captive air training missiles; AIM-120ER load trainers; weapon system support and support equipment; spare parts, consumables, accessories and repair and return support; classified software; and technical documentation, studies and surveys.
Regarding the air surveillance radars, Taiwan has requested to buy AN/TPS-77 and AN/TPS-78 radar turnkey systems, along with spare and repair parts, consumables and accessories, and training equipment, although the precise number of radar systems was not detailed.
Both sales include various aspects of technical, training, engineering, logistics and programme support.
The DSCA stated that the NASAMS systems “will improve the recipient’s capability to meet current and future threats by contributing to the recipient’s abilities to defend its airspace, provide regional security, and increase interoperability with the United States through its NASAMS program”.
The radars, meanwhile, “will improve the recipient’s capability to meet current and future threats by providing multi-mission ground-based radar solutions for medium- to long-range air surveillance”, the DSCA stated.
As part of its standard rubric, the DSCA stated that the NASAMS, AN/TPS-77 and AN/TPS-78 sales “will not alter the basic military balance in the region”, although clearly the sales are intended to offset the increasing military threat posed by the military forces of China.
The principal contractor for the NASAMS package will be Raytheon, out of its facilities in Andover, Massachusetts. The AN/TPS-77 and AN/TPS-78 radars are made by Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman respectively, although the DSCA only stated in its announcement that the radars “will be procured by the US Air Force”.
