While several US arms procurements are facing delays, 18 sets of M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS) are expected to arrive ahead of schedule by the end of next year, a Ministry of National Defense report showed.
The ministry is to brief the Legislative Yuan’s Foreign Affairs and National Defense Committee today on the progress of major procurement projects, including the HIMARS, F-16V Block 70 jets, AGM-154C Joint Standoff Weapons and Mark 48 heavy torpedoes.
The report, delivered to the legislature yesterday, said that the second batch of HIMARS was originally scheduled for delivery in 2027.
Photo: Chiang Ying-ying, AP
Committee members have invited Minister of National Defense Wellington Koo (顧立雄) to present the report and explain “the causes of delays in recent military projects and procurement programs, as well as the ministry’s proposed countermeasures.”
The HIMARS shipment is to include 18 launchers, 20 Army Tactical Missile Systems (ATACMS) with a range of 300km, and 864 precision rockets with a range of 70km, according to budget documents.
The army last year received 11 HIMARS launchers and 64 ATACMS missiles in the first shipment, which are already operational, the ministry said.
Twenty-one other procurements, including TOW 2B anti-tank systems, are progressing normally, it said.
Deliveries of the TOW 2B and Phalanx close-in weapons systems have been completed, while other items are being shipped according to schedule, it added.
However, the purchase of 66 F-16V Block 70 jets has encountered significant delays, it said, adding that the jets were originally expected to be delivered by the end of next year, but supply chain disruptions and production line adjustments have slowed progress.
Since the first F-16V rolled off the production line in March, there have been no updates on subsequent aircraft, the report said, adding that the US manufacturer has adopted a two-shift, 20-hour work schedule to accelerate production.
Under the ministry’s NT$247.2 billion (US$8.04 billion) special budget, the air force is to acquire 66 of the upgraded jets from 2020 to next year. The jets are to be stationed at Chihhang Air Base in Taitung County and operate alongside F-16V Block 20 jets in Hualien County to strengthen Taiwan’s eastern air defense.
Deputy Minister of National Defense for Armaments Chung Shu-ming (鍾樹明) said he raised concerns about the delay with contractors during a meeting in the US on Oct. 22.
Because the F-16V purchase was made through the US Foreign Military Sales program, there is no compensation mechanism for late deliveries, unlike direct commercial sales, he said.
However, Taiwan plans to reserve part of its budget and request the return of any undue profits resulting from the manufacturer’s delay, Chung added.
The report said that the delivery of AGM-154C glide bombs intended for the F-16V Block 70s is also facing delays.
Taiwan opted for the newest configuration of the weapon, requiring the US to restart production, procure materials and reintegrate systems, pushing the delivery date back to 2027 and 2028.
The AGM-154C is a precision-guided glide bomb that can be mounted on F-16V aircraft. When launched from a high altitude, it can strike ground from a distance of up to 130km.
Washington approved the sale of the weapon to Taiwan in 2017 during US President Donald Trump’s first term. Deliveries were initially scheduled for 2023, later postponed to this year and next year before the latest delay.
The report also mentioned delays in the delivery of 24 Mark 48 heavy torpedoes and four training models. Originally slated for delivery between 2023 and next year under a NT$5.46 billion budget, the program has been pushed back to between next year and 2028 due to supply chain interruptions and the need to restart production lines.
The ministry said that despite the setbacks it continues to coordinate closely with US counterparts to ensure that all contracted equipment is delivered as soon as possible to bolster Taiwan’s defense.
A magnitude 5.6 earthquake struck off the coast of Yilan County at 12:37pm today, with clear shaking felt across much of northern Taiwan. There were no immediate reports of damage. The epicenter of the quake was 16.9km east-southeast of Yilan County Hall offshore at a depth of 66.8km, Central Weather Administration (CWA) data showed. The maximum intensity registered at a 4 in Yilan County’s Nanao Township (南澳) on Taiwan’s seven-tier scale. Other parts of Yilan, as well as certain areas of Hualien County, Taipei, New Taipei City, Taoyuan, Hsinchu County, Taichung and Miaoli County, recorded intensities of 3. Residents of Yilan County and Taipei received
Taiwan has secured another breakthrough in fruit exports, with jujubes, dragon fruit and lychees approved for shipment to the EU, the Ministry of Agriculture said yesterday. The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Agency on Thursday received formal notification of the approval from the EU, the ministry said, adding that the decision was expected to expand Taiwanese fruit producers’ access to high-end European markets. Taiwan exported 126 tonnes of lychees last year, valued at US$1.48 million, with Japan accounting for 102 tonnes. Other export destinations included New Zealand, Hong Kong, the US and Australia, ministry data showed. Jujube exports totaled 103 tonnes, valued at
BIG SPENDERS: Foreign investors bought the most Taiwan equities since 2005, signaling confidence that an AI boom would continue to benefit chipmakers Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co’s (TSMC, 台積電) market capitalization swelled to US$2 trillion for the first time following a 4.25 percent rally in its American depositary receipts (ADR) overnight, putting the world’s biggest contract chipmaker sixth on the list of the world’s biggest companies by market capitalization, just behind Amazon.com Inc. The site CompaniesMarketcap.com ranked TSMC ahead of Saudi Aramco and Meta Platforms Inc. The Taiwanese company’s ADRs on Tuesday surged to US$385.75 on the New York Stock Exchange, as strong demand for artificial intelligence (AI) applications led to chip supply constraints and boost revenue growth to record-breaking levels. Each TSMC ADR represents
TRUST: The KMT said it respected the US’ timing and considerations, and hoped it would continue to honor its commitments to helping Taiwan bolster its defenses and deterrence US President Donald Trump is delaying a multibillion-dollar arms sale to Taiwan to ensure his visit to Beijing is successful, a New York Times report said. The weapons sales package has stalled in the US Department of State, the report said, citing US officials it did not identify. The White House has told agencies not to push forward ahead of Trump’s meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping (習近平), it said. The two last month held a phone call to discuss trade and geopolitical flashpoints ahead of the summit. Xi raised the Taiwan issue and urged the US to handle arms sales to
RSS