Concrete progress has been made in recent military procurement talks with the US and France, Vice Minister of National Defense Chao Shih-chang (趙世璋) reported yesterday.
Fielding questions in the legislature’s Foreign and National Defense Committee, Chao confirmed that after intensive talks between the US and Taiwan, the US side has agreed to lower the price of its FGM-148 Javelin anti-tank missiles to US$160,000 per unit from its previously quoted US$240,000 per unit.
Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) legislators Lin Yu-fang (林郁方) and Shuai Hua-ming (帥化民) had earlier this year advised the Ministry of National Defense to reopen negotiations with the US to seek a better price for the missiles or drop the procurement plan.
Chao said the price reduction would allow Taiwan to buy 105-107 of the missiles for the Republic of China Marine Corps, along with the missile launching system, which has also been discounted.
This will save Taiwan some US$20 million, he said.
Meanwhile, Taiwan has also reached a deal with France for improved repairs and maintenance of its fleet of Dassault Mirage 2000-5 fighter aircraft, Ger Hsi-hsiung (葛熙熊), chief of staff of the Air Force, told the legislative committee.
France has agreed to supply by the end of this year the turbofans Taiwan needs for its Mirages. It has also opened talks with the ministry on a cooperative venture for a rocket propulsion system, he said.
Taiwan ordered 48 single-seat Mirage 2000-5EI interceptors and 12 Mirage twin-seat 2000-5DI trainers in 1992. T
he first squadron became operational in 1997.
Additional reporting by staff writer
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