The Ministry of National Defense (MND) yesterday thanked the US after Washington approved the sale of a US$180 million arms package, mainly involving a minelaying system.
The sale includes the M136 “Volcano” automated mine delivery system and the M977A4 HEMTT 10-tonne cargo trucks on which the system would be mounted, the ministry said.
Developed in the 1980s, the system can be mounted on ground vehicles or helicopters and uses prepackaged mine canisters that contain multiple anti-personnel and anti-tank mines that can be dispersed over large areas.
Photo: Screengrab from US Army website
The equipment would significantly boost Taiwan’s asymmetrical warfare capabilities, as it enables more efficient anti-tank mine placement, the ministry said.
The sale embodies Washington’s commitment to ensuring that Taiwan can defend itself, as stated by the Taiwan Relations Act and the “six assurances,” the ministry said, expressing its “sincere gratitude” to the US.
The ministry added that arms sales are likely to be formally confirmed by the US Congress within a month.
Photo: Screengrab from US Army website
The Executive Yuan approved the proposal to buy the minelaying system last year, an unnamed military source told the Central News Agency earlier this year.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the latest deal is the eighth arms sale to Taiwan by the administration of US President Joe Biden, which “fully demonstrates the US government’s high regard for Taiwan’s defense capabilities.”
The US Defense Security Cooperation Agency announced the proposed sale on Wednesday.
Photo: CNA
“The proposed sale will improve the recipient’s capability to meet current and future threats by providing a credible force capable of deterring adversaries and participating in regional operations,” the agency said in a statement.
The weapons package also includes M87A1 anti-tank munitions, M88 canister training munitions and M89 training munitions, as well as related logistics support and technical assistance.
According to the US Federal Procurement Data System, there are plans to supply Taiwan with the International Field Artillery Tactical Data System (IFATDS), the international version of the US Army’s Advanced Field Artillery Tactical Data System.
The system increases the lethality of the M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems by providing a secure communications system combining information from sources across the battlefield for a better operating picture and greater situational awareness.
The Ukrainian-language Ukrayinska Pravda news site has reported that Kyiv would purchase 18 sets of IFATDS from the US.
The purchase would be conducted using funds from the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative, the report said.
Tropical Storm Gaemi strengthened into a typhoon at 2pm yesterday, and could make landfall in Yilan County tomorrow, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said yesterday. The agency was scheduled to issue a sea warning at 11:30pm yesterday, and could issue a land warning later today. Gaemi was moving north-northwest at 4kph, carrying maximum sustained winds near its center of up to 118.8kph and gusts of 154.8kph. The circumference is forecast to reach eastern Taiwan tomorrow morning, with the center making landfall in Yilan County later that night before departing from the north coast, CWA weather forecaster Kuan Shin-ping (官欣平) said yesterday. Uncertainty remains and
SEA WARNING LIKELY: The storm, named Gaemi, could become a moderate typhoon on Wednesday or Thursday, with the Taipei City Government preparing for flooding A tropical depression east of the Philippines developed into a tropical storm named Gaemi at 2pm yesterday, and was moving toward eastern Taiwan, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said. Gaemi could begin to affect Taiwan proper on Tuesday, lasting until Friday, and could develop into a moderate typhoon on Wednesday or Thursday, it said. A sea warning for Gaemi could be issued as early as Tuesday morning, it added. Gaemi, the third tropical storm in the Pacific Ocean this typhoon season, is projected to begin moving northwest today, and be closest to Taiwan on Wednesday or Thursday, the agency said. Today, there would likely
DISRUPTIONS: The high-speed rail is to operate as normal, while several airlines either canceled flights or announced early departures or late arrivals Schools and offices in 15 cities and counties are to be closed today due to Typhoon Gaemi, local governments announced last night. The 15 are: Taipei, New Taipei City, Taoyuan, Tainan, Keelung, Hsinchu and Kaohsiung, as well as Yilan, Hualien, Hsinchu, Miaoli, Chiayi, Pingtung, Penghu and Lienchiang counties. People should brace for torrential rainfall brought by the storm, with its center forecast to make landfall on the east coast between tonight and tomorrow morning, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said. The agency issued a sea warning for the typhoon at 11:30pm on Monday, followed by a land warning at 11:30am yesterday. As of
CASUALTY: A 70-year-old woman was killed by a falling tree in Kaohsiung as the premier warned all government agencies to remain on high alert for the next 24 hours Schools and offices nationwide are to be closed for a second day today as Typhoon Gaemi crosses over the nation, bringing torrential rain and whipping winds. Gaemi was forecast to make landfall late last night. From Tuesday night, its outer band brought substantial rainfall and strong winds to the nation. As of 6:15pm last night, the typhoon’s center was 20km southeast of Hualien County, Central Weather Administration (CWA) data showed. It was moving at 19kph and had a radius of 250km. As of 3pm yesterday, one woman had died, while 58 people were injured, the Central Emergency Operation Center said. The 70-year-old