TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The US Department of Defense on Wednesday said it awarded Lockheed Martin a NT$10.3 billion (US$328.5 million) military sales contract to supply equipment for Taiwan’s Air Force, Reuters reported.

At the time the contract was issued, the Pentagon allocated about NT$4.9 billion to begin the project, which is scheduled to continue through June 2031. The deal includes 55 Legion Enhanced Infrared Search and Track sensor pods, along with related processors and containers.

The announcement comes after China recently conducted large-scale military exercises around Taiwan. While the US maintains formal diplomatic relations with China, it has longstanding unofficial ties with Taiwan and is the country’s primary arms supplier.

China considers Taiwan part of its territory and has never ruled out using force to assert control, a claim Taiwan rejects. US law requires Washington to help Taiwan maintain the ability to defend itself.

According to a report submitted to Taiwan’s legislature on Nov. 3, 25 foreign military sales cases are currently in progress, up from 18 in June. Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense reported that as of Nov. 30, the value of US arms sales approved in previous years but not yet delivered totaled NT$676 billion, according to Taiwan Security Monitor.