U.S. to supply over a thousand armed drones to Taiwan in upcoming arms deal
The US has given the green light to a $360 million deal, sending over 1,000 tiny military drones to Taiwan. This move aims to boost Taiwan's capacity for unconventional warfare, learning from successful strategies used in Ukraine.
Taiwan is set to receive 720 Switchblade missiles and related fire control units worth approximately $60.2 million, according to a statement from the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) on Tuesday.
In addition, Taiwan may receive up to 291 Altius 600M loitering munitions and relevant components, with a total cost of $300 million, as per the DSCA.
The proposed sale comes as China steps up its military aggression against Taiwan, with regular military exercises nearby and almost daily airplane incursions near the island.
China considers democratic Taiwan as part of its territory, despite never governing it, and has pledged to "reunify" with the island if necessary, using force.
As per the Taiwan Relations Act, the US is required to provide Taiwan with tools for self-defense, and it provides Taipei with defensive weapons.
However, these arm sales have sparked criticism from China.
At the Shangri-La Dialogue defense summit in Singapore earlier this month, Chinese Defense Minister Adm. Dong Jun criticized external interference forces for arming Taiwan and maintaining illicit contact with the island, apparently referring to the US.
The Switchblade, resembling a small fixed-wing drone, is a cost-effective lightweight precision-guided missile that can be launched from various platforms within two minutes, hover for 20 minutes, and reach a distance of 30 kilometers (18.6 miles).
AeroVironment, the manufacturer, states that the Switchblade has been effective during Ukraine's defense against Russia's invasion.
"We have been appreciative of the overwhelming user feedback and demand for more systems," AeroVironment's CEO Wahid Nawabi said in an April post on the company's website.
On the other hand, the larger Altius 600M can carry multiple seeker and warhead options while being launched from land, air, and sea platforms, according to manufacturer Anduril.
Both drones can also be used for reconnaissance purposes.
In a statement on Wednesday, Taiwan's presidential office expressed gratitude for the US's security commitments, stating this was the Biden administration's 15th weapons sale to Taiwan since 2021.
"Taiwan will continue to bolster our self-defense and unconventional warfare capabilities to increase our deterrence," presidential office spokeswoman Karen Kuo said. "We will fiercely defend our democratic political system and freedom, and we will collaborate with nations sharing similar values to uphold the international rules-based order."
These systems will join a long list of weapons and munitions approved for Taiwan but not yet delivered.
A June 3 record of US military sales to Taiwan shows more than $19.6 billion in weapons and ammunition approved but not yet delivered to Taiwan's military, according to the Washington-based Cato Institute think tank.
This includes $6.1 billion in unconventional weapon systems, including Harpoon missiles, PAC-3 missile interceptors, and MQ-9B aerial drones, Cato said.
Many analysts have encouraged Taiwan to focus more on unconventional weapons, arguing that these would be harder for China to counter during an invasion of the island.
"However, Taiwan's military has been reluctant to fully adopt an unconventional defense posture, and 55 percent of the backlog's dollar value is for capabilities that are more expensive and less likely to sustain in a conflict with China," the Cato brief said.
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Taiwan's Presidential office acknowledged receipt of these advanced drones, stating, "We are grateful for the US's continued security commitments to Taiwan. This is the Biden administration's 15th weapons sale to Taiwan since 2021, furthering our efforts to bolster unconventional warfare capabilities and increase our deterrence."
Amidst rising tensions with China, the global stage is watching this escalation closely. The recent arms deal, which includes over a thousand drones, serves as a reminder of the complex geopolitical landscape in Asia and the world at large.
