The United States has approved the $360 million sale of more than 1,000 small armed drones to Taiwan, as the self-ruled island claimed by China aims to strengthen its asymmetrical warfare abilities with an eye on successful tactics used on the battlefield in Ukraine.
Taiwan will receive 720 Switchblade missiles and accompanying fire control systems worth $60.2 million, according to a release from the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) on Tuesday.
The US will also provide Taiwan with up to 291 Altius 600M loitering munitions and supporting components with a price tag of $300 million, the DSCA said.
The proposed sale comes as China increases military pressure on Taiwan, with extensive military exercises around it and almost daily warplane flights near the island.
China’s ruling Communist Party claims democratic Taiwan as its own, despite never having controlled it, and has vowed to “reunify” with the island, by force if necessary.
I imagine the effectiveness of the sea drones Ukraine has been using has some pretty profound implications given there’s a straight between Taiwan and China as well.
These are squad level ground launched air to ground munitions i.e. they’re small enough to be carried by infantry units and have the explosive charge more akin to antitank munitions.
That’s $1 million per loitering munition? Meanwhile the Lancet is $20000, the Chinese equivalent is even less, and the Israeli-made IAI Harpy (sold to China, India, etc.) is about $70000.
I’d love to be a US defence contractor.
Taiwan will receive 720 Switchblade missiles and accompanying fire control systems worth $60.2 million
That’s $84K per drone missile. Those are comparable to the ones you mentioned. Also, you quoted the internal Lancet price for Russia. Their export price is $35K (and I feel like you are going to have to wait a long time to get any).
The “Altius 600” is the $1 million one. It’s much heavier and has a bigger payload.
The Altius 600 weighs 27 pounds and carries a maximum payload of 7 pounds. The Lancet weighs 12kg (~26 pounds) and carries a maximum payload of 3kg (~6.6 pounds).
What are you smoking?
China should arm Puerto Rico.
Not really analogous. Puerto Ricans had a chance to vote for independence or for statehood in 2017. They voted for statehood, but it has yet to be granted.
Puerto Ricans want to be part of the U.S. government. Taiwanese want nothing to do with Xi’s regime.
Why are people down voting you? This is a great idea! Give guns to the government that administers Puerto Rico. I’m sure they will be willing to hand those guns right back… to the government that administers Taiwan.
Add some rum along with the weapons for moral support of the Taiwanese defenders.
PR mostly wants statehood, more like “arm Texas”
