Biden administration to ask Congress to approve US$1.1 billion arms package for Taiwan
Biden administration to ask Congress to approve US$1.1 billion arms package for Taiwan
2022-08-31
In the face of rising cross-strait tensions, the Ministry of National Defense has announced a NT$415.1 billion budget for 2023. That’s more than 15% of the government’s total annual budget. Combined with other special funds, the total may come to NT$586.3 billion, or 2.4% of the GDP. Meanwhile, reports say the Biden administration is set to ask the U.S. Congress to approve a US$1.1 billion arms sale to Taiwan, which will include 60 Harpoon anti-ship missiles and 100 Sidewinder air-to-air missiles.
During an airdrop drill, a Humvee is dropped from a C-130 Hercules transport aircraft.
As the military continues to fortify its defense capability, reports say the Biden administration is set to ask Congress to approve an arms sale to Taiwan. The deal would include 60 Harpoon anti-ship missiles for US$355 million, and 100 Sidewinder air-to-air missiles, which can be mounted on F-16V fighter jets, for US$856 million, bringing the total to more than US$1.1 billion.
Su Tzu-yun
Institute for National Defense and Security Research
The Harpoon missiles can be launched from the air or submarines, which can ward off the enemy’s fleet and warships in asymmetric warfare. The Sidewinder missiles can launch off-axis strikes. They can be paired with F-16V jets and integrated head protection systems, and they are not limited to a straight line for launch. They can even be launched sideways, in a 90-degree angle, or even 180 degrees from center axis, at an enemy plane trailing behind.
The military expert said the arms in the deal are promising. But apart from the two types of missiles mentioned, the military also hopes to be able to purchase the High Mobility Artillery Rocket System, or the HIMARS, which played a key role in Ukraine against Russia.
In this year’s national defense budget plan, the army allocated more than NT$15.4 billion for 11 HIMARS. For the coming year, since the army is no longer buying the M109A6 “Paladin” self-propelled howitzers, the budget for that will go toward 18 HIMARS. In addition, there will be a budget for 84 missiles for the army Tactical Missile System, or ATACMS, as well as 864 precision rockets, bringing the total budget to more than NT$32.5 billion.
Meanwhile, the military is also boosting its drone forces. The Air Force has signed a NT$16.8 billion procurement agreement with the U.S. for four MQ-9 "Reaper" unmanned aerial vehicles. That pushes the defense budget for next year to NT$415.1 billion, accounting for 15.3% of the government’s total annual budget. Adding in special funds for non-profit purposes at NT$62.9 billion, a special budget of NT$45.1 billion for new fighter jets, and an additional NT$63.2 billion special budget for upgrading the Navy and Air Force, the total amount may add up to NT$586.3 billion, or 2.4% of the GDP. All these funds will go to enhancing Taiwan’s combat capability.
拜登擬再對台軍售 包含60枚魚叉.100枚響尾蛇
2022-08-31
為因應台海情勢升溫，國防部明年編列4151億預算，佔總預算15.3%，若再加上其他細項，總數可達5863億，佔GDP的2.4%。此外，也傳出拜登政府將拍板新一波對台軍售，包括60枚魚叉反艦飛彈、100枚響尾蛇空對空飛彈，總價超過11億美金。
國軍演練空投戰術，從C-130運輸機上，直接拋下悍馬車。
國軍持續強化戰力的同時，也傳出美國拜登政府近期，將拍板新一波對台軍售，包括60枚魚叉反艦飛彈，造價3億5500萬美金，以及100枚可掛載於F-16V上的響尾蛇空對空飛彈，要價8億5600萬美金，總價超過11億美金。
[[國防院軍事戰略暨產業所長 蘇紫雲]]
“(魚叉飛彈)可進行空射潛射，對於反制敵人船團、作戰艦艇，可發揮不對稱效果。(響尾蛇飛彈)可進行離軸射擊，搭配F-16V跟整合性頭盔，射擊方向不限於直線，甚至可往旁邊、90度角射擊，甚至180度角，往後射擊追擊的敵機。”
專家樂觀看待，不過軍方要買的除了上述兩種武器，還有在俄烏戰爭中屢建戰功，具備精準火力打擊的海馬斯多管火箭系統。
根據今年的國防預算書顯示，陸軍編列154億4413萬4000元，採購11套海馬斯多管火箭，不過明年的國防預算書顯示，在確定不買M109A6帕拉丁自走砲後，改買18套海馬斯多管火箭系統，同時把陸軍戰術區域飛彈增加到84枚，再增購864枚"精準火箭"，總預算也增加到325億2354萬7000元。
不只增加源頭打擊能力花費，國軍也增加無人載具佈署，空軍計畫以168億8069萬多元，向美採購四架MQ-9B無人機，而整體國防預算也大幅增加，明年編列4151億，佔總預算15.3%，若再加上非營業特種基金629億、新式戰機特別預算451億與海空戰力提升特別預算632億，可達5863億，佔GDP2.4%，蔡政府持續擴大國防支出，強化台灣戰力。
Related News
