Lockheed Martin has been given a contract involving foreign military sales to Taiwan to meet what Washington calls “an urgent operational need” of Taiwan’s air force, the Pentagon said on Wednesday.
The contract has a ceiling value of US$328.5 million, with US$157.3 million in foreign military sales funds obligated at the time of award, the Pentagon said in a statement.
“This contract provides for the procurement and delivery of 55 Infrared Search and Track Legion Enhanced Sensor Pods, processors, pod containers and processor containers required to meet the urgent operational need of the Taiwan air force,” it said.
Photo: Ritchie B. Tongo, EPA
The contract’s work would be performed in Orlando, Florida, and is expected to be completed by June 2031, it added.
Last month, US President Donald Trump’s administration announced US$11.1 billion in arms sales to Taiwan, the largest ever US weapons package for the nation, which is under increasing military pressure from China.
The announcement comes days after China staged massive military drills around Taiwan on Monday and Tuesday.
During the drills, named “Justice Mission 2025,” Chinese forces fired dozens of rockets toward Taiwan, and deployed a large number of warships and aircraft near the nation in a show of force that drew concern from allies in the region and the West.
Additional reporting by staff writer
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