Taiwan has been approved to receive U.S. -made HARM Anti-Radiation and AIM-120C-8 air-to-air missiles for its F-16 jets, with which it can target Chinese aircraft should they threaten its shores.
China has been regularly flying its fighter and bomber aircraft close to the air defense identification zone of Taiwan in an obvious move to intimidate the tiny island nation.
Beijing has been threatening Taipei with forceful unification. Following Russia grabbing a portion of southern Ukraine, fears have arisen that Beijing could be inspired by its former communist ' big brother.'
The U.S. State Department has approved a possible Foreign Military Sale to the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in the United States of F-16 Munitions and related equipment for an estimated cost of $619 million.
The Defense Security Cooperation Agency delivered the required certification notifying Congress of this possible sale Wednesday.
The Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in the United States (TECRO) has requested to buy 100 AGM-88B High-Speed Anti-Radiation Missiles (HARM); twenty-three HARM training missiles; 200 AIM-120C-8 Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missiles (AMRAAM); four AIM-120C-8 AMRAAM Guidance Sections; and 26 LAU-129 multi-purpose launchers.
Also included are LAU-118A missile launchers with Aircraft Launcher Interface Computer (ALIC); HARM missile containers; AIM-120 control sections and containers; AIM-120C Captive Air Training Missiles (CATM); dummy air training missiles (DATM), integration and test support and equipment besides spares and support.
The proposed sale will contribute to the recipient’s capability to provide for the defense of its airspace, regional security, and interoperability with the United States.