The US State Department has approved the sale of 40 155mm M109A6 Paladin self-propelled howitzers (SPH) and 20 M992A2 Field Artillery Ammunition Support Vehicles (FAASV) to Taiwan, as well as the potential foreign military sales (FMS) of related equipment and technical support.
The US Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) announced on August 4 that the US-based Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office (TECRO) also requested 5 M88A2 Hercules Armored Recovery Vehicles (ARV) and 1,698 sets of precision guidance kits.
The proposed transaction still needs to be approved by the U.S. Congress and is worth up to 750 million U.S. dollars.
In addition to vehicles and guidance kits, TECRO also requested a series of mission equipment, including BAE System Defense Advanced Global Positioning System Receiver (DAGR); AN/VVS(2) Night Driver’s Viewer (NDV) equipment; L3Harris dynamic reference unit hybrid replacement Inertial navigation system; and Raytheon’s Advanced Field Artillery Tactical Data System (AFATDS).
Other items included in the TECRO request include the export of single-channel ground and airborne radio systems (SINCGARS), M2A1 12.7 mm heavy machine guns, weapon mounts, smoke grenade launchers, and artillery.
The M109A6 SPH is a modernized version of the M109A2 platform currently used by the Republic of China Army (RoCA). It can use the latest generation of ammunition, increase the ammunition load, and improve the survivability of vehicles and occupants. It also reduces the need for four crew members instead of six.
The FMS approval was the first to be granted to Taiwan. Under the management of US President Joe Biden, Taiwan is increasingly threatened by a confident Chinese invasion—China believes that Taiwan is a country that must be unified with the mainland. Separate provinces.
Rupert Hammond-Chambers, chairman of the U.S.-Taiwan Business Council, said: “We expect that the United States will continue to conduct arms sales on a regular, timely and regular basis to promote Taiwan’s military preparations.”
Hammond Chambers added: “We also hope to see the Biden administration provide Taiwan with more new capabilities to help expand its current military posture and continue to improve its multi-level self-defense capabilities.”
The high-profile FMS approval granted to Taiwan earlier last year includes potential sales of the potentially weaponized GA-ASI MQ-9B SeaGuardian long-endurance drone, the Boeing Harpoon Coastal Defense System, and the RGM-84L-4 Harpoon Block II. Ship missile and M142 HIMARS launcher.
Xiao Wu
