The Ministry of National Defense has awarded restricted contracts worth NT$2.32 billion (US$75.47 million) to buy portable and vehicle-mounted decontamination devices to equip reserve chemical warfare troops in anticipation of their numbers being raised next year.
The Chungshan Institute of Science and Technology was awarded NT$213.4 million to provide decontamination systems to be used by light vehicles, a public contract notice dated Monday last week said.
The military previously said it aimed to obtain 194 lightweight systems.
Photo: Screen grab from the Republic of China Navy’s Facebook page
The Taoyuan-based Suitable Spring Businessman Co was awarded a NT$18.2 million contract for 960 portable decontamination systems, a separate notice posted four days prior said.
These systems are to be delivered by the end of next year, according to publicly available information.
The lightweight and portable systems are to replace the obsolete T4-84 and T4-77 systems in the reserve forces’ inventory respectively, sources said.
The replacement plan was prompted by the passing of the systems’ retirement date and difficulties in sourcing spare parts, they said.
The new decontamination systems would enhance capabilities to deal with chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear threats in the event of a war, and provide relief during pandemics in peacetime, they said.
The deal for the decontamination systems was part of a larger NT$2.6 billion budget allocation to obtain 81mm mortars, automatic grenade launchers, night vision devices and other types of equipment for reserve units.
The demand for equipment from the armed forces reserve was projected to expand as a result of the ministry’s plan to form reservist territorial defense brigades, extend refresher training to two weeks and lengthen military conscription.
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