US agrees to Transfer Military Grade Titanium Tech, Patriot Missiles to Taiwan

The US has agreed to transfer new military technologies to Taiwan, according to the Taiwanese Ministry of National Defense (MND).

According to reports, Lockheed Martin will transfer technology and training for Taiwan’s defense industry to product its own aerospace and military grade titanium, as part of a deal that will also include six sets of Patriot Advanced Capability-3 (PAC-3) missiles and upgrade kits for PAC-2 missiles, Taiwan News reported last Friday.

The titanium production technology will allow Taiwan to bolster its armoring capabilities as well as strengthen the effectiveness of various weapon’s platforms currently under development. 

A senior official of the MND speaking to the media said that the new technology is part of an arms package deal to upgrade Taiwan’s Patriot Missile (PAC-2) systems, which includes several new PAC-3 missiles and some MIM-104 Patriot surface-to-air missiles (SAM) as well. 

The entire package will cost an approximate NT$179.1 billion (approx. US$6 billion), Liberty Times reported.

The official reportedly said that the US government has already approved the transfer from Lockheed Martin and that Taiwan can expect the new missiles and upgrade kits by 2021. 

In addition to the military applications, the titanium casting technology will also be a huge boon to Taiwan’s aerospace and heavy industry. 

The transfer is reportedly being overseen by the MND and managed by the Ministry of Economic Affairs’ Industrial Cooperation Program, which has already received an application for the transfer from Lockheed Martin, reports Liberty Times. 

Once dates and details are finalized, a joint press conference from the Ministry of National Defense and the Ministry of Economic Affairs will be announced.