The US Department of Defense has finalized a $68.4 million contract with Raytheon, the defense-industrial company, for the production and supply of 50 air-to-ground missiles to Taiwan. The Pentagon confirmed this development on Saturday.
“Raytheon Missile Systems, Tucson, Arizona, was awarded a $68,420,396 modification (P00001) to a firm-fixed-price order (N0001924F2560) … This modification exercising an option for the production and delivery of 50 Joint Standoff Weapon Air-To-Ground Missiles (AGM-154 Block III C) for the government of Taiwan,” Pentagon said in a statement.
The contract’s work is anticipated to conclude by March 2028, as per the statement.
It is worth noting that Taiwan has maintained separate governance from mainland China since 1949. Beijing regards Taiwan as its province, while Taiwan, although possessing its own elected government, asserts its autonomy without officially declaring independence.
Beijing strongly opposes official interactions between foreign nations and Taipei and upholds Chinese sovereignty over the island as non-negotiable.
In response to high-level US delegations visiting Taiwan in 2022 and 2023, the Chinese military conducted extensive exercises near the island, signalling a warning to both Taiwanese separatists and foreign entities.
