Taiwan says US$2.37 billion worth of Harpoon missiles would enable it to obliterate half of Chinese invasion armada
Taiwan News
Date: 2020/11/024
By: Keoni Everington, Taiwan News, Staff Writer
Harpoon anti-ship missile launch. (Defense Media Agency photo)
On Oct. 26, the U.S. Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) issued a press release announcing that the U.S. State Department has given the green light to the sale of 100 Harpoon Coastal Defense Systems (HCDS) and associated equipment for approximately US$2.37 billion. Specifically, the sale would include 100 HCDS launcher transporter units, 400 RGM-84L-4 Harpoon Block II Surface Launched Missiles, four RTM-84L-4 Harpoon Block II Exercise Missiles, 411 containers, 25 radar trucks, spare and repair parts, and support and test equipment, among other items.
The weapons sale marked the second within a week and the ninth overall to Taiwan by the Trump administration. On Oct. 21, the DSCA announced a US$1.8 billion deal that includes 11 High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS) M142 Launchers, 135 AGM-84H Standoff Land Attack Missile Expanded Response (SLAM-ER) Missiles and related equipment, and six MS-110 Recce external sensor pods made by Collins Aerospace for jets.
In response to an announcement by the U.S. about the potential sale, the South China Morning Post cited Taiwan's Vice Defense Minister Chang Che-ping (張哲平) as saying at a press conference on Oct. 27 that the deal would help the country " achieve its goal of being able to destroy half of any enemy force by 2025." He added that in the meantime, "We hope to increase the number [of missiles] so that we can build up our combat power before then.”
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