The Switchblade 300 loitering munitions and ALTIUS 600M-V uncrewed aerial vehicles that Taiwan has ordered from the US are scheduled for delivery between this year and the next, the US Department of State said on Wednesday.
The department on Tuesday notified the US Congress of its approval of the possible Foreign Military Sales of up to 720 Switchblade 300 and up to 291 ALTIUS 600M-V to Taiwan.
The drones, estimated at a cost of US$300 million, would represent the 15th arms sale package to Taiwan under US President Joe Biden’s administration.
Photo: Ann Wang, Reuters
Asked about the sales, the US Bureau of Political-Military Affairs said in a written response on Wednesday that “both sales are for delivery in 2024-2025,” but it did not specify whether the full supply of 1,011 weapons systems would be delivered within that time frame.
However, US-Taiwan Business Council president Rupert Hammond-Chambers said that he believed the delivery would be completed in the next 18 months.
“There is no industrial base issue with delivery in this timeline,” he said in a written response. “That would have been a consideration for these programs.”
A loitering munition is a drone designed to loiter around an area and then attack the target when spotted.
The loitering munitions supply to Taiwan can complement the various precision missiles the nation already has and, coupled with domestically manufactured drones, would accelerate Taiwan’s efforts to create a multi-layered deterrence system, the Ministry of National Defense said.
The US’ decision to supply the drones, which have reconnaissance and immediate strike capabilities, would help Taiwan respond more quickly to enemy threats, the ministry said.
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