Taiwan, U.S. sign contract on NASAMS air defense system sale

Taipei, Feb. 10 (CNA) The United States has finalized a deal to sell Taiwan three National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile Systems (NASAMS) at a price of around NT$24.98 billion (US$761.94 million), a military source confirmed Monday.

According to an announcement posted on Taiwan's Government e-Procurement System website Monday, the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) and the ROC Defense Mission to the USA have signed a contract allowing Taiwan's procurement of "air defense missile systems."

The contract has a term of validity from Jan. 14, 2025 until Dec. 31, 2030.

In the announcement, the contract's enforcement agency is listed as the Republic of China (ROC, Taiwan's official name) Air Force, and the locations where the contract is to be honored are Taipei's Songshan District and New Taipei's Tamsui District.

A military source told CNA Monday that the announcement referred to Taiwan's order to purchase three NASAMS, which ties it to a separate announcement about "parts and components for air defense missile systems" posted on the website last month.

The U.S. Defense Security Cooperation Agency said in a statement in October 2024 that it had notified Congress of a possible sale of NASAMS to Taiwan after the State Department approved the sale, which included 123 Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missiles-Extended Range (AMRAAM-ER) missiles and related equipment.

It was the 17th foreign military sales package to Taiwan approved by former U.S. President Joe Biden's administration.

Quoting Tony Hu (胡振東), who served as the first senior country director for Taiwan at the Pentagon, ruling Democratic Progressive Party Legislator Wang Ting-yu (王定宇) said on social media that AMRAAM-ER missiles complement existing Patriot, Tien Kung, and Stinger air defense missiles and are more powerful than the now-retired HAWK missiles and the active Skyguard air defense systems.

It was the first air defense system adopted by the U.S. to protect its capital and can be used in conjunction with the AN/TWQ-1 Avenger Air Defense System, Wang quoted Hu as saying.

The ROC Defense Mission to the USA is the Taiwanese military mission under the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in the U.S., while the AIT is the U.S.' de facto embassy in Taiwan in the absence of formal diplomatic ties.