Delivery of four MQ-9B SeaGuardian drones and ancillary systems purchased from the US is expected to be completed by the end of 2029, about a year later than expected, according to a government notice.
A Government e-Procurement system notice published yesterday showed that the four drones and ancillary systems are to cost NT$16.8 billion (US$549.23 million), and that the delivery time frame extends to Dec. 31, 2029.
It was previously reported that Taiwan and the US agreed on a 2028 completion date earlier this year.
Photo: AFP
The scheduled delivery of the first MQ-9B drone remains unchanged from a 2025 date negotiated earlier this year, a source with knowledge of the matter said.
No details were provided on when the other drones are expected to be delivered.
Construction of ground facilities, training personnel in the US and installing control systems brings the cost of the drone package to NT$21.7 billion, a budget proposal submitted by the Ministry of National Defense to the legislature showed.
While the drones are primarily to be used for naval and ground reconnaissance operations, they are also capable of carrying weapons, allowing them to back up combat aircraft during wartime, the ministry said.
Separately, 53 Chinese military aircraft and eight naval ships were detected in areas around Taiwan on Thursday, with 14 of the planes having crossed the Taiwan Strait’s median line, the ministry said.
Ten Shenyang J-11 fighter jets and four Xian JH-7 fighter bombers flew across the median line, ministry data showed.
Nine other planes flew into the southwestern part of Taiwan’s air defense identification zone.
The planes that entered the zone consisted of one Y-8 anti-submarine warfare plane, five Shenyang J-16 fighter jets, two H-6 bombers, and one KJ-500 third-generation airborne early warning and control plane.
The ministry did not release the flight paths of the other planes.
Combat air and naval patrols were scrambled, and defense missile systems were deployed to track the aircraft, it said.
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