Washington: The United States has confirmed the sale to Taiwan of nearly $700 million in advanced air defense missile systems, battle-tested in Ukraine, marking the second such weapons package to Taiwan in a week.

According to Thai News Agency, last year, the US announced that Taiwan would receive three medium-range air defense systems, the National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System (NASAMS), produced by RTX, as part of a $2 billion arms sale. The NASAMS system is a new addition for Taiwan, with only Australia and Indonesia operating it in the region.

The US Department of Defense stated on Monday that RTX has been awarded a fixed-price contract to procure NASAMS units, with work expected to be completed by February 2031. The NASAMS system, used effectively in Ukraine to defend against a Russian invasion, significantly enhances air defense capabilities. This development underscores the growing demand for such systems and the strategic decision by the US to export them to Taiwan.