TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Defense Minister Wellington Koo (顧立雄) on Tuesday said the Ministry of National Defense received a US price proposal for the HIMARS long-range missile system on March 6 and stressed that it should be signed by March 26.
The US government announced eight arms sales to Taiwan valued at US$11.1 billion (NT$353.07 billion) at the end of last year, per CNA. The package includes M109A7 self-propelled howitzers, HIMARS, TOW missiles, Javelin anti-tank missiles, and anti-armor drone missile systems.
Koo said that of the five US military procurements under the special defense budget, the ministry has already received price proposals for four. He emphasized that the ministry hopes to sign all five agreements with the US once it receives authorization from the Legislative Yuan.
The defense ministry previously said that draft price proposals for three of the special budget items — the TOW missiles, Javelin missiles, and M109A7 self-propelled howitzers — are valid until March 15. The ministry is urging the legislature to authorize the signing of these proposals promptly to avoid delays.
Addressing media reports claiming that delivery of the first two MQ-9B drones had been postponed, Koo said there had been no delays and that he was unsure of the source of the reports. He added that no other US weapons deliveries to Taiwan have been affected by the conflict in the Middle East.
