U.S. envoy pledges support for Taiwan defense industry, cites new ammo test range

Taipei, Jan. 22 (CNA) Raymond Greene, the U.S. representative to Taiwan, said Thursday that Washington is committed to expanding Taiwan's domestic defense industrial base, citing a new medium-caliber ammunition test range installed in Taiwan and other initiatives to help build secure drone supply chains.

Greene highlighted the ammunition test facility established by Northrop Grumman in remarks delivered at a seminar hosted by the Institute for National Defense and Security Research, a think tank affiliated with Taiwan's Ministry of National Defense (MND).

The facility allows Taiwan's MND "to test ammunition to global industry standards, enabling the advancement of indigenous development projects through the transfer of technology, proprietary procedures, and expert training," Greene said.

Northrop Grumman has been deepening its cooperation with Taiwan in recent years. Last September, the U.S. defense contractor signed a memorandum of understanding with Taiwan's National Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology to explore collaboration on air and missile defense modernization for the MND. It has also formed a consortium with local firms to deliver the AN/TPS-78 Advanced Capabilities Radar to Taiwan, according to the company's website.

Greene also underscored efforts to develop secure drone supply chains, noting that Anduril, a U.S. defense technology company specializing in autonomous systems, sources Taiwanese components to diversify production of its Ghost-X unmanned aerial system.

He added that Shield AI has invested heavily in local components while teaming with Aerospace Industrial Development Corp., Taiwan's largest prime defense contractor.

"Taiwan is a key partner in advancing the frontiers of defense technology," said Greene, who is the director of the American Institute in Taiwan, which represents U.S. interests in Taiwan in the absence of formal diplomatic ties.

By combining U.S. leadership in artificial intelligence research and innovation with Taiwan's manufacturing and hardware capabilities, the two sides can develop edge-computing and embodied-AI applications for drones, command-and-control systems, air defense and other platforms, further strengthening deterrence, Greene said.

"The objective of all of these efforts is to establish conditions for dialogue free from coercion. The United States has always insisted on the peaceful resolution of cross-Strait differences," he added.