Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

US TO SELL US$421 MILLION WORTH OF MISSILES TO TAIWAN

ROC Central News Agency

2007-03-01 16:29:22

    Washington, Feb. 28 (CNA) The United States will sell 218 Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Misiles (AMRAAMs) and 135 Maverick missiles to Taiwan, according to the Defense Security Cooperation Agency under the Ministry of Defense.

    In a press release issued here Wednesday, the agency said it has notified Congress of the possible sale which also includes training versions of the two proposed missiles, 48 AMRAAM launchers, spare parts, technical assistance and logistical support.

    If all options are exercised, the agency said, the price for the sale could be as high as US$421 million.

    The proposed sale is part of Taiwan's plan to modernize its armed forces and enhance its defensive ability to counter air and ground threats, said the release, adding that the U.S. is committed to providing military assistance under the terms of the Taiwan Relations Act.

    The AMRAAM and Maverick missiles to be produced by Raytheon Missile Systems Corporation in Tucson, Arizona will augment Taiwan's F-16 fleet; Taiwan already has the two types of these missiles in its inventory and is certainly capable of absorbing and utilizing the additional missiles effectively, the agency said.

    The Maverick missile is a tactical, air-to-surface guided missile designed for close air support, interdiction and defense suppression mission, while the AMRAAM is a fire-and-forget missile which has replaced the AIM-7 Sparrow as the U.S. military's standard Beyond Visual Range intercept missile.

(By Lin Chiehyu and Maubo Chang)

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