Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

U.S.-MADE RADAR SYSTEM WILL BOOST DEFENSE CAPABILITY: MND

Central News Agency

2005-06-25 13:33:01

    Taipei, June 25 (CNA) An early warning surveillance radar system to be sold to Taiwan by the United States will boost the country's defense capability significantly, the Ministry of National Defense said Saturday.

    In a statement issued a day after the U.S. Defense Department announced in Washington that it had awarded defense contractor Raytheon Co. a US$752 million contract to build the radar system for Taiwan, the ministry said Taiwan's ability to defend itself against missiles is insufficient.

    Although Taiwan has already acquired the U.S.-made Patriot Advanced Capability-II anti-missile system and is anticipating purchasing the more advanced PAC-III system, their effects are limited without the early warning radar system.

    The ministry said the radar system will allow Taiwan's air force to detect and track long- and short-range ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, enemy aircraft and surface ships, giving it more time to respond with its anti-missile missiles.

    The delivery date for the system is set for September 2009.

(By Maubo Chang)

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