Taiwan has signed a major arms deal with the United States, reportedly worth NT$10.31 billion (approximately US$312.9 million), to acquire the National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile Systems (NASAMS).

Taiwan’s state-owned news agency, CNA, reported that the agreement, which strengthens Taiwan’s air defense capabilities, was signed recently by Taiwan’s defense mission in the US and the American Institute in Taiwan, with the deal set to last until 2034. 

The NASAMS has gained prominence for its performance in the ongoing Ukraine conflict, where it has played a key role in countering missile and air threats. 

The systems will primarily be deployed in key locations across Taiwan, including Taipei’s Songshan District and New Taipei’s Tamsui District.

In addition to the NASAMS systems, the agreement also covers the procurement of radar systems. A radar system valued at US$192.6 million (NT$6.42 billion) will be installed at key locations in New Taipei, Miaoli, Kaohsiung, and Hualien. 

Additionally, a US$228.3 million (NT$7.61 billion) radar network is set to be established in Taipei, Pingtung, and Hualien, with all systems expected to be fully operational by 2030.

Taiwan’s military is eager to integrate this cutting-edge technology as part of its efforts to bolster defenses amid the growing military tensions in the Taiwan Strait.

The contract, which was first announced in October, includes the purchase of three NASAMS systems, each equipped with an AN/MPQ-64F1 Sentinel radar. 

Additionally, the deal encompasses a variety of advanced hardware such as fire distribution centers (FDC), canister launcher systems (CLS), electro-optical/infrared (EO/IR) systems, and tactical control center (TCC) systems.

The systems will be integrated with the AIM-120 Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missiles-Extended Range (AMRAAM-ER), which has been tailored specifically for NASAMS. 

Armed with standard AMRAAMs, NASAMS can engage targets at ranges of up to 20 miles and altitudes from 1,000 feet to 50,000 feet. 

The AMRAAM-ER incorporates technology from the RIM-162 Evolved Sea Sparrow Missile (ESSM) and the AIM-120 AMRAAM. This extends its engagement range by around 50% and boosts altitude capability by 70%. 

Taiwan Seeks Weapons Proven Effective In Ukraine

The NASAMS procurement is the latest in a series of acquisitions by Taipei of weapon systems that have been battle-tested in Ukraine against Russia. 

Over the past two years, Taiwan has been on a weapons procurement spree, either increasing the quantity of arms in existing deals or signing new contracts. 

For example, in late 2020, the United States approved the sale of 64 ATACMS missiles and 11 HIMARS M142 launchers to Taiwan.

However, after the HIMARS systems demonstrated their effectiveness in the Ukraine conflict, Taiwan decided to order an additional 18 HIMARS units and raised its order of ATACMS missiles from 64 to 84. 

In November 2024, Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense (MND) confirmed the delivery of 11 HIMARS units, which were stationed at the 58th Artillery Command of the 10th Army Corps in Taichung. 

Ukraine has used these systems to strike Russian military bases and disrupt Russia’s military operations, and Taiwanese experts suggest they could similarly target Chinese military facilities along Taiwan’s coastline if needed.

In addition to HIMARS, Taiwan is also in the process of acquiring 720 Switchblade 300 loitering munitions and associated fire control systems, worth a total of US$60.2 million. 

The United States is also set to provide Taiwan with as many as 291 Altius 600M loitering munitions, along with the necessary supporting components, in a deal valued at US$300 million.

Earlier, Taiwan took delivery of its first batch of US-made Abrams M1A2T tanks. The MND (Ministry of National Defense) celebrated the arrival with a social media post captioned, “Heavy Armors Have Arrived! Welcome to join us!” accompanied by images and videos showcasing the tanks’ arrival.

The M1A2T tanks are part of a $1.25 billion arms deal announced in 2019 under then-US President Donald Trump. This first shipment, which arrived at the Port of Taipei in New Taipei’s Bali District on December 15, includes 38 tanks out of the total 108 units ordered.

Meanwhile, the Taiwanese military already employs the Patriot missile defense system, which has earned praise for its role in Ukraine’s defense against Russian air attacks. 

The NASAMS system will further enhance Taiwan’s military arsenal. As a medium-range air defense system, NASAMS is capable of engaging a wide range of aerial threats, including cruise missiles and one-way attack drones—both of which are weapons that China could use in the event of a military strike against Taiwan.

NASAMS is also known for its modular design that allows the integration of different radars, sensors, and launchers into a single battery based on the system’s configuration. 

These components are all tied together through a central fire distribution center. NASAMS can also be integrated into a larger Integrated Air Defense System (IADS), which is important for Taipei, given the complexities of defending against the sophisticated Chinese threat. 

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