Australia and Indonesia are currently the only countries operating the system in the Indo-Pacific region, and Reuters reported that the three countries were set to receive it as part of a $2 billion arms sale to Taiwan last year.
The National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System (NASAMS) medium-range air defense solution is manufactured by RTX and is a new weapon for Taiwan.
The Department of Defense said the company has a firm fixed-price contract for the procurement of the NASAMS unit, and work is expected to be completed in February 2031.
“Foreign Military Sales (Taiwan) funds in the amount of $698,948,760 have been obligated for fiscal year 2026,” the department said in a statement.
RTX did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The NASAMS system is used in Ukraine to fend off a Russian invasion and would greatly enhance its air defense capabilities, and the US is exporting it to Taiwan as demand soars.
The United States on November 13 approved a $330 million sale of fighter jets and other aircraft parts to Taiwan, the first since President Donald Trump took office in January, drawing gratitude from Taipei and anger from China.
News of the arms sale comes amid a worsening diplomatic crisis between Beijing and Japan over Taiwan, which China claims as its own territory.
The report further added that on November 16, a China Coast Guard ship sailed through waters around islands in the East China Sea controlled by Japan but claimed by China.
Master’s degree/PR