In a strategic move to bolster Taiwan’s defensive capabilities, the U.S. State Department’s Bureau of Political-Military Affairs recently sanctioned a significant arms deal valued at $2 billion. This package includes advanced defensive weaponry, prominently featuring the National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System (NASAMS), alongside other state-of-the-art radar and missile systems. The approval of this package marks a crucial step in the strengthening of Taiwan’s defense network as the island faces intensifying military pressure from China.

The core of the proposed arms deal consists of three NASAMS units, estimated to be worth up to $1.16 billion, complemented by an array of additional systems to enhance Taiwan’s air defense. These assets will bolster Taiwan’s military’s capacity to respond to potential aerial threats from the Chinese mainland.

• Three AN/MPQ-64F1 Sentinel radars, crucial for high-performance target tracking and identification.
• 123 Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missiles-Extended Range (AMRAAM-ER) and two AMRAAM-C8 guidance systems.
• Supporting fire distribution centers, Canister Launcher Systems, electro-optical/infrared (EO/IR) targeting, and Tactical Control Centers.

These systems will allow Taiwan to operate the NASAMS independently, reinforcing the island’s air defense capabilities. Taiwan’s Ministry of Defense welcomed the U.S. approval, acknowledging NASAMS’s role in enhancing the Taiwanese army’s defensive reach and technological sophistication. The inclusion of NASAMS, proven effective in other conflict zones such as Ukraine, is anticipated to provide Taiwan with critical air defense improvements, allowing it to respond dynamically to various aerial threats, including drones, fighter jets, and cruise missiles.

Beyond the NASAMS, the United States approved additional radar sales, notably the AN/TPS-77 and AN/TPS-78 turnkey systems. These high-performance radar systems will play a pivotal role in Taiwan’s long-range surveillance and early warning capabilities, offering an added layer of security. Valued at approximately $828 million, these radar systems complement Taiwan’s multi-tiered defense approach, particularly against low-altitude threats like cruise missiles and drones.

Taiwan’s presidential office expressed gratitude for the U.S. commitment to Taiwan’s security amid the island’s increasing military readiness. Following the inauguration of President Lai Ching-te in May, Taiwan has expanded its defense investments, motivated by a marked rise in Chinese military activities near its borders. In a recent escalation, China conducted extensive military drills encircling Taiwan, involving 153 military aircraft, 14 naval vessels, and 12 government ships in a single day. These exercises, described by Chinese officials as targeting “key ports and strategic areas” around Taiwan, highlight Beijing’s intention to exert control over Taiwan, which it claims as its territory.

China’s Foreign Ministry issued a swift condemnation of the U.S. arms sale, arguing that the deal directly violates the “one-China” principle and the three China-U.S. joint communiqués, particularly the August 17 Communiqué of 1982. Chinese officials contended that the arms package would destabilize the Taiwan Strait and was a direct affront to China’s sovereignty.

NASAMS System: A Technical Overview

NASAMS has gained global recognition for its flexibility and effectiveness in medium-range air defense, serving as a key asset in intercepting a range of aerial threats. It operates on a sophisticated network using the ground-launched AIM-120 AMRAAM, capable of neutralizing various threats, including drones, tactical aircraft, and some cruise missiles.

• 360-degree phased array radar: This X-band radar can identify targets up to 75 kilometers (approximately 47 miles) away.
• High engagement capacity: The system can track and engage up to 72 targets simultaneously, operating in both active and passive modes.
• Extended range: NASAMS, by utilizing AMRAAM-ER missiles, can intercept targets beyond visual range, allowing it to engage in diverse combat scenarios.

NASAMS units are self-contained, including fire control centers, radar, and launchers, which enable efficient deployment by company-sized units. The NASAMS system is particularly valued for its multi-role capacity, defending both static and mobile installations, a critical asset for Taiwan in modern warfare contexts.

Taiwan’s defensive strategies rely on a layered approach, combining several U.S.-provided defense systems. In addition to NASAMS, Taiwan operates the Patriot missile defense system, a globally recognized system also in use in conflict zones such as Ukraine. Together, NASAMS and Patriot form a robust, multi-tiered air defense framework that enables Taiwan to counter different types of aerial threats effectively.

1. NASAMS:

• Operational range: Up to 40 kilometers (25 miles).
• Targets: Primarily medium-range, including drones, tactical aircraft, and certain cruise missiles.
• Key technology: AIM-120 AMRAAM, which engages targets efficiently with networked tracking and response capabilities.

2. Patriot System:

• Operational range: Extends up to 160 kilometers (99 miles).
• Targets: Long-range threats, including tactical ballistic missiles, advanced aircraft, and cruise missiles.
• Technology: The system uses advanced missiles, such as the PAC-2 and PAC-3, with sophisticated guidance systems that enhance interception accuracy.

3. THAAD:

• Range: Capable of intercepting targets at distances between 150 and 200 kilometers (93 to 124 miles).
• Specialty: THAAD is specifically designed to counter short-, medium-, and intermediate-range ballistic missiles in their terminal phase, utilizing “hit-to-kill” technology.
• Status in Taiwan: Although considered a high-value asset, there are no current plans to deploy THAAD in Taiwan due to geopolitical sensitivities, especially given Beijing’s strong opposition to the system’s previous deployment in South Korea.

These systems, when integrated, offer Taiwan a multi-layered defensive network capable of responding to diverse threats across varying ranges and altitudes.

The recent NASAMS package represents one of the most advanced air defense systems provided to Taiwan under the Biden administration, signifying a shift toward “asymmetric warfare” capabilities. This concept, according to defense experts, is essential for Taiwan, which faces an adversary with far larger conventional military capabilities. NASAMS’s flexibility to respond to different types of aerial threats positions it as a critical asset for safeguarding key strategic points, including Taiwan’s capital, Taipei, and other critical infrastructure.

The AN/MPQ-64F1 Sentinel radar, also part of the NASAMS system, will be integrated into Taiwan’s air defense network, contributing to a more comprehensive and responsive strategy. According to Chou Yu-ping, a retired Taiwanese Air Force officer, the integration of intelligence from these advanced radar systems will allow Taiwan’s Air Force to create a unified, comprehensive defense strategy.

The recent arms package has reverberated through regional and international political landscapes. The package indicates a commitment among NATO allies to support Taiwan in the face of China’s increasingly assertive stance in East Asia. Notably, Taiwan’s initial discussions with U.S. officials about acquiring NASAMS began in 2022, yet legal hurdles required authorization from Norway, a NATO member, due to the joint U.S.-Norwegian origins of the NASAMS technology. Approval of the arms package signals growing NATO support for Taiwan’s defense against Chinese aggression, aligning Taiwan’s defense strategies with the broader goal of maintaining security and stability in the Indo-Pacific region.

Beijing’s objections to the arms package underscore the complexities surrounding the “one-China” policy and the United States’ policy of strategic ambiguity toward Taiwan. The U.S. maintains no official stance on Taiwan’s sovereignty; however, it has continuously supported Taiwan’s right to self-defense, particularly under the Taiwan Relations Act. While the U.S. does not formally recognize Taiwan as a sovereign nation, recent developments indicate its increased willingness to counterbalance China’s growing military assertiveness in the region.