On Sep. 2, 2022 the US government has cleared the sale of 60 AGM-84L-1 Harpoon Block II missiles, 100 AIM-9X Block II Sidewinder missiles and the upgrade of the AN/FPS-115 PAVE PAWS radar to Taiwan.
On Sep. 2, 2022 the US government has cleared the sale of 60 AGM-84L-1 Harpoon Block II missiles, 100 AIM-9X Block II Sidewinder missiles and the upgrade of the AN/FPS-115 PAVE PAWS radar to Taiwan, Alert 5 first noted.
According to Transmittal No: 22-46, ‘The State Department has made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale to the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in the United States of AIM-9X Block II Sidewinder Missiles and related equipment for an estimated cost of $85.6 million. The Defense Security Cooperation Agency delivered the required certification notifying Congress of this possible sale today.
‘The Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in the United States (TECRO) has requested to buy one hundred (100) AIM-9X Block II Sidewinder tactical missiles and four (4) AIM-9X Block II tactical Guidance Units.’
Transmittal No: 22-45 instead states that ‘the State Department has made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale to the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in the United States of AGM-84L-1 Harpoon Block II Missiles and related equipment for an estimated cost of $355 million. The Defense Security Cooperation Agency delivered the required certification notifying Congress of this possible sale today.
‘The Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in the United States (TECRO) has requested to buy sixty (60) AGM-84L-1 Harpoon Block II missiles and four (4) ATM-84L-1 Harpoon Block II exercise missiles. Also included are Harpoon Guidance Control Units (GCUs); Harpoon Radar Seekers; Harpoon Radar Altimeters; Harpoon Captive Air Test Missiles (CATMs).’
However, of three potential arms sales to Taiwan the most expensive one is the upgrade of the AN/FPS-115 PAVE PAWS radar for $665.4 million.
In fact, according to Transmittal No: 22-44, ‘the State Department has made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale to the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in the United States of Contract Logistics Support for the Surveillance Radar Program (SRP) and related equipment for an estimated cost of $665.4 million. The Defense Security Cooperation Agency delivered the required certification notifying Congress of this possible sale today.
‘The Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in the United States (TECRO) has requested to buy follow-on Contractor Logistics Support (CLS) for the Surveillance Radar Program (SRP); program management; minor modifications and upgrades; spares and repair/return parts; publications and technical documentation.
The Pentagon says the Contractor Logistics Support (CLS) for the Surveillance Radar Program (SRP), to be executed by Raytheon, will provide “improved situational awareness and threat warning capabilities critical to regional security.”
The Pentagon announced the package on Sep. 2, 2022 in the wake of China‘s aggressive military drills around Taiwan following a visit to the island last month by US House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi, the highest-ranking US official to travel to Taipei in years.
As reported by Reuters, Liu Pengyu, spokesperson for the Chinese Embassy in Washington, said in a statement the possible arms sale “severely jeopardizes China-U.S. relations and peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait.”
“China will resolutely take legitimate and necessary counter-measures in light of the development of the situation,” he said.
President Joe Biden’s administration said the package has been under consideration for some time and was developed in consultation with Taiwan and US lawmakers.
“As the PRC continues to increase pressure on Taiwan – including through heightened military air and maritime presence around Taiwan – and engages in attempts to change the status quo in the Taiwan Strait, we’re providing Taiwan with what it needs to maintain its self-defense capabilities,” Laura Rosenberger, White House senior director for China and Taiwan, said in a statement.
Photo credit: CINDY FARMER / U.S. Air Force
