The US Department of Defense is to partner with RTX Corp, formerly Raytheon Technologies Corp, to deliver 50 AGM-154 Joint Standoff Weapons (JSOW), or glide bombs, to Taiwan over the next four years, a report published on Friday showed.
The report, published on the department’s Web site on Friday, said that 50 AGM-154 Block III C JSOWs would be delivered to Taiwan under a fixed-price contract worth US$68.4 million.
Most of the production of the weapons would be done in Tucson, Arizona, and would be completed by March 2028, the report said.
Photo: AFP
The report comes after Reuters on Thursday quoted US officials as saying that the US military had left equipment in Australia following last year’s Talisman Sabre 23 joint exercise, with the intention that it could be used by US forces in the event of a conflict with China over Taiwan.
The glide bombs are part of a larger arms package of seven items initially announced by the US in June 2017. It also included the AGM-88 HARM (High-speed Anti-radiation Missile) and other weapons that could be used with Taiwan’s F-16 jets. The weapons were intended to complement other upgrades to Taiwan’s F-16 fleet, which also included radar and communications system upgrades.
The AGM-154 is a JSOW that emerged through the US Navy’s Advanced Interdiction Weapon System program launched in 1987, which sought to develop weapons that are usable day or night, and in any weather conditions.
The JSOWs designed for the program are “fire and forget” weapons, meaning they do not require external guidance after launch. Instead, they navigate to their targets via a GPS/inertial navigation system. JSOW weapons have been replacing conventional laser-guided bombs, and the newest JSOW weapons also incorporate infrared guidance systems.
JSOW weapons dropped at high altitude can reach targets as far as 110km away, and those launched at low altitude can strike up to 22km away, which would enhance the F-16 jet’s land attack capabilities.
Countries other than the US that are purchasing AGM-154 glide bombs include Taiwan, Australia, Finland, Greece, Poland, Singapore and Turkey.
Taiwan has facilitated the incorporation of the weapons into its fleet by upgrading its older F-16A/B fighter jets to the F-16V variant through the Phoenix Rising Project and through the purchase of newer Block 70 fighters.
The upgraded jets as well as the Block 70 fighters can carry AGM-154C glide bombs, which could help diversify the Taiwanese air force’s air-to-ground combat capabilities.
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