The U.S. government announced approval Wednesday to sell $1 billion worth of advanced air-to-ground missiles to Taiwan as the island shores up its defenses against the threat from China. The U.S. State Department said it had agreed to sell 135 of the AGM-84H SLAM-ER missiles – precision-guided, air-launched cruise missiles – and related equipment. Also approved was the sale of six MS-110 reconnaissance pods for air reconnaissance, and 11 M142 [HIMARS] mobile rocket launchers, taking the value of three arms packages to $1.8 billion. The sales announced Wednesday did not include the MQ9 Reaper combat drones, which Taiwan has reportedly requested.
The Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in the United States (TECRO) has requested to buy one hundred thirty-five (135) AGM-84H Standoff Land Attack Missile Expanded Response (SLAM-ER) Missiles, four (4) ATM-84H SLAM-ER Telemetry Missiles and twelve (12) CATM-84H Captive Air Training Missiles (CATM). Also included are one hundred fifty-one (151) containers, spare and repair parts, support and test equipment, publications and technical documentation, personnel training and training equipment. The principal contractor will be the Boeing Company, St. Louis, MO. There are no known offset agreements proposed in connection with this potential sale.
The State Department also has made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale to the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in the United States (TECRO) of eleven (11) High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS) M142 Launchers, sixty-four (64) Army Tactical Missile Systems (ATACMS) M57 Unitary Missiles, seven (7) M1152Al High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicles (HMMWVs), seventeen (17) International Field Artillery Tactical Data Systems (IFATDS), fifty-four (54) M28A2 Low Cost Reduced Range Practice Rocket Pods (LCRRPR); eleven (11) M1084A2 cargo FMTV Resupply Vehicles (RSV); two (2) M1089A2 cargo wrecker FMTV RSV; eleven (11) M1095 trailer cargo FMTV.
TECRO also has requested to buy six (6) MS-110 Recce Pods; three (3) Transportable Ground Stations; one (1) Fixed Ground station; spare and repair parts; repair and return; site surveys; integration and test equipment; system support and equipment; personnel training and training equipment; publications and technical documentation; U.S. Government and contractor engineering, technical, and logistical support services; and other related elements of logistical and program support. The total estimated program cost is $367.2 million. The principal contractor will be Collins Aerospace, Westford, MA. The purchaser typically requests offsets.