Taiwan's Ministry of National Defense has officially secured agreements with the government of the United States to purchase 1,000 attack drones from American defense manufacturers AeroVironment Inc. and Anduril Industries Inc.
According to several reports, Taiwan formalized the purchase in September with a "letter of offer and acceptance," the final step before formal contracts, which will specify exact quantities, financial terms and delivery timelines.
The transaction follows the U.S. Department of State's approval to sell 1,011 loitering munition drones to Taiwan. Also known as kamikaze or suicide drones, loitering munitions are designed to loiter at a given area until a target is detected, then attack the target by crashing into and destroying it. This kind of drone technology has been deployed effectively in conflict zones like Ukraine.
The approval allowed for the transfer of 291 Anduril Altius 600M-V drones for $300 million and 720 AeroVironment Switchblade 300 "B" model drones for $60 million. (Related: U.S. to send $567M in military aid to Taiwan, ignoring China's "red lines" related to the island nation.)
This agreement is a major step in the procurement strategy of Taiwan to strengthen its military posture amid increasing military tensions, especially with the lessons learned from modern warfare tactics observed in the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine.
Retired Rear Adm. Mark Montgomery, a senior director at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, views the procurement as a response to lessons from the defense strategy of Ukraine, where drones have been instrumental in intelligence gathering and offensive operations. Montgomery, who has conducted defense assessments in Taiwan, stressed the importance of Taiwan adapting to current warfare trends.
The contracts have yet to be signed, but officials familiar with the negotiation expressed confidence that the details will be finalized shortly.
China sanctions six U.S. military companies, five senior executives
In June, China's Foreign Ministry quickly responded to earlier military arms sales between Washington and Taipei by sanctioning six U.S. military companies and five senior executives.
The sanctioned companies were Maritime Tactical Systems, Pacific Rim Defense, AEVEX Aerospace, LKD Aerospace, Summit Technologies Inc. and Anduril Industries, which is also selling the suicide drones to Taiwan.
The sanctioned senior executives belong to AeroVironment and Anduril Industries.
The movable and immovable properties and other assets of these corporations and individuals within China were frozen. Additionally, all organizations and individuals within China had been prohibited from engaging in transactions, cooperation and other activities with them. Their visas or entry into China will be denied too, including to its special administrative regions of Hong Kong and Macau.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian reiterated China's position in an Oct. 29 general press conference.
"Taiwan is a province of China and there is no such thing as 'Taiwan's ministry of defense.' China's firm opposition to the military contact between the U.S. and Taiwan is consistent and clear. The two U.S. companies you mentioned and relevant senior executives in charge are under sanctions by China," Lin said.
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