US confirms sale of $700 mln air defence agreement

The United States confirmed the sale to Taiwan of an advanced missile system worth almost $700 million which has been battle-tested in Ukraine, its second weapons package in a week bringing the total of $1 billion, and reaffirmed support for Taipei.



In the Indo-Pacific region, only Australia and Indonesia now operate the system, three of which the United States said last year Taiwan would receive as part of a $2-billion weapons sale.



The National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System (NASAMS) medium-range air defence solutions, as they are called, are made by RTX, and are a new weapon for Taiwan.



The Pentagon said the company was given a firm fixed-price contract for procurement of the NASAMS units, with work estimated to be completed in February 2031.