Taiwan might still be trying to obtain AGM-158 Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missiles to achieve the military’s invasion-deterrence goals, a Ministry of National Defense report showed.
The Progress Report on the Development of Asymmetric Warfare Capabilities (發展不對稱作戰之精實成效), submitted to the legislature and dated Oct. 8, states that the defense ministry seeks to procure several types of US-made missiles and bombs for Taiwan’s fleet of F-16V jets.
The weapons include AGM-84 Standoff Land Attack Missile-Expanded Response missiles, AGM-88 High-speed anti-Radiation Missiles, the AGM-154 Joint Standoff Weapon and as yet unnamed “significant extended-range capable air-launched missiles.”
Photo: Chang Chia-ming, Taipei Times
The unnamed weapon is believed to be AGM-158A and AGM-158B missiles, which are stealth munitions with an effective range of 370km and greater than 926km respectively.
A ministry spokesperson refused to confirm the type of munition mentioned in the progress report.
The other three types of munitions referred to in the report were included in a NT$45.1 billion (US$1.4 billion) arms deal signed in January by the Defense Mission to the US and the American Institute in Taiwan, the de facto US embassy in the nation.
The weapons are intended to enhance the ground and sea attack capabilities of F-16V jets operating from air force bases in Taitung, the defense ministry said in the report.
The military’s defense goals emphasize long-range precision strikes, integrated air defense, joint sea control, joint homeland defense, cyberwarfare, and joint command, control and surveillance capabilities, it said.
Long-range precision strike capability is the highest priority among the six capabilities being developed, as it enables the armed forces to target an enemy’s operational center of gravity and disrupt its deployment of sea and air units, the ministry said.
That capability is to be achieved through procurements and domestically developed weapon systems, including the Hsiung Sheng II-E and Wan Chien land-attack cruise missiles, and Chien Hsiang loitering munitions, it said.
The ministry is continuing to create highly mobile combat units with long-range precision strike capabilities to increase defense depth and form a multilayered invasion-deterrence strategy, it said.
EXPRESSING GRATITUDE: Without its Taiwanese partners which are ‘working around the clock,’ Nvidia could not meet AI demand, CEO Jensen Huang said Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (TSMC, 台積電) and US-based artificial intelligence (AI) chip designer Nvidia Corp have partnered with each other on silicon photonics development, Nvidia founder and CEO Jensen Huang (黃仁勳) said. Speaking with reporters after he met with TSMC chairman C.C. Wei (魏哲家) in Taipei on Friday, Huang said his company was working with the world’s largest contract chipmaker on silicon photonics, but admitted it was unlikely for the cooperation to yield results any time soon, and both sides would need several years to achieve concrete outcomes. To have a stake in the silicon photonics supply chain, TSMC and
SILICON VALLEY HUB: The office would showcase Taiwan’s strengths in semiconductors and artificial intelligence, and help Taiwanese start-ups connect with global opportunities Taiwan has established an office in Palo Alto, one of the principal cities of Silicon Valley in California, aimed at helping Taiwanese technology start-ups gain global visibility, the National Development Council said yesterday. The “Startup Island Taiwan Silicon Valley hub” at No. 299 California Avenue is focused on “supporting start-ups and innovators by providing professional consulting, co-working spaces, and community platforms,” the council said in a post on its Web site. The office is the second overseas start-up hub established by the council, after a similar site was set up in Tokyo in September last year. Representatives from Taiwanese start-ups, local businesses and
‘DETERRENT’: US national security adviser-designate Mike Waltz said that he wants to speed up deliveries of weapons purchased by Taiwan to deter threats from China US president-elect Donald Trump’s nominee for US secretary of defense, Pete Hegseth, affirmed his commitment to peace in the Taiwan Strait during his confirmation hearing in Washington on Tuesday. Hegseth called China “the most comprehensive and serious challenge to US national security” and said that he would aim to limit Beijing’s expansion in the Indo-Pacific region, Voice of America reported. He would also adhere to long-standing policies to prevent miscalculations, Hegseth added. The US Senate Armed Services Committee hearing was the first for a nominee of Trump’s incoming Cabinet, and questions mostly focused on whether he was fit for the
SHARED VALUES: The US, Taiwan and other allies hope to maintain the cross-strait ‘status quo’ to foster regional prosperity and growth, the former US vice president said Former US vice president Mike Pence yesterday vowed to continue to support US-Taiwan relations, and to defend the security and interests of both countries and the free world. At a meeting with President William Lai (賴清德) at the Presidential Office in Taipei, Pence said that the US and Taiwan enjoy strong and continued friendship based on the shared values of freedom, the rule of law and respect for human rights. Such foundations exceed limitations imposed by geography and culture, said Pence, who is visiting Taiwan for the first time. The US and Taiwan have shared interests, and Americans are increasingly concerned about China’s
RSS