The US Department of State has approved the sale of kamikaze drones and missiles to Taiwan for US$360 million, the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency said on Tuesday.
Included in the two separate packages are 720 Switchblade 300 loitering munitions and related equipment for an estimated cost of US$60.2 million, and 291 ALTIUS 600M-V drone systems and related equipment for an estimated cost of US$300 million, the agency said.
“The proposed sale will help improve the security of the recipient and assist in maintaining political stability, military balance and economic progress in the region,” it said in separate news releases announcing the sales.
Photo: Screen grab from AeroVironment’s Facebook page
Taipei had expressed interest in obtaining AeroVironment Switchblade loitering munitions or other devices with similar capabilities to enhance its asymmetric warfare capabilities, sources said last month.
Loitering munitions fly around an area until a target is located, then attack by crashing into it.
The Switchblade 300 is a tube-launched drone designed to attack ground troops, which Ukrainian forces have utilized extensively in their fight against Russia’s invasion.
The ALTIUS 600M-V is the warhead variant of the Anduril series of loitering munitions. It can be deployed from various platforms and in a networked swarm.
The Ministry of National Defense on X yesterday thanked Washington for the approval, saying it would “enhance our ability to meet current and future threats” in accordance with the Taiwan Relations Act and the “six assurances.”
In a separate statement, the ministry said that approval time was significantly expedited for the sales.
It thanked its US counterparts for their efforts to accelerate arms sales to Taiwan.
The US’ official approval of the sale of the weapons would bolster Taiwan’s self-defense capabilities, Presidential Office spokeswoman Kuo Ya-hui (郭雅慧) said.
The Presidential Office thanks the US government for observing the Taiwan Relations Act and the “six assurances,” and continuing to strengthen the Taiwan-US partnership to jointly uphold regional peace, Kuo said.
The combined package is the 15th authorized to Taiwan since the administration of US President Joe Biden took office in 2021, highlighting the US government’s emphasis on regional stability and peace, she said.
Taiwan would continue to augment its self-defense and asymmetrical warfare capabilities to defend and uphold its democratic and free government, she said.
Taiwan would also continue to work with like-minded countries to ensure that the Indo-Pacific region remains free and open to all, foster global peace, stability and prosperity, and contribute in a meaningful and benign manner, she added.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that the US is working with like-minded partners to urge China to stop oppressing Taiwan, and undermining peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait.
Taiwan would continue to deepen Taiwan-US security partnerships, and work together to maintain a rules-based world order to foster stability, peace and prosperity in the Taiwan Strait and the Indo-Pacific region, the ministry said.
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