Taiwan Requests U.S. Assistance for Patriot Deployment

The U.S. State Department approved a possible Foreign Military Sale to the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office (TECRO) in the United States of Contractor Technical Assistance and related equipment for an estimated cost of $95 million.

TECRO had requested to buy Contractor Technical Assistance support consisting of training, planning, fielding, deployment, operation, maintenance, and sustainment of the Patriot Air Defense System, associated equipment, and logistics support elements; as well as Patriot Ground Support Equipment, spare parts, and consumables as required in support of Technical Assistance activities. The total estimated program cost is $95 million.

This proposed sale is consistent with U.S. law and policy as expressed in Public Law 96-8.

The prime contractor will be Raytheon Technologies, Andover, MA. In February, China sanctioned two American firms – Lockheed Martin and Raytheon – that acted as the main contractors in the Patriot missile upgrades sale to Taiwan.

The move comes amidst heightened rhetoric in Chinese media circles of an impending invasion of Taiwan following Russia's invasion of Ukraine. “The proposed sale will help to sustain the recipient’s missile density and ensure readiness for air operations. The recipient will use this capability as a deterrent to regional threats and to strengthen homeland defense. The recipient will have no difficulty absorbing this equipment and services into its armed forces,” the agency said.