Taiwan signed a contract to buy about 2,000 military drones from U.S. defense corporations Anduril. The purchase amounts to 26.9 billion Taiwan dollars (about 1.17 trillion won).
Taiwan's Ministry of National Defense on the 27th disclosed on the government's electronic procurement system a contract to buy 2,032 drones from Anduril.
The deal covers 1,554 Altius-700M loitering munitions and 478 Altius-600ISR reconnaissance drones. Deliveries will begin in the fourth quarter of this year and are scheduled to be completed by the first half of 2033.
In December last year, the United States approved a plan to sell Taiwan $11.1 billion worth of weapons, including the state-of-the-art guided rocket HIMARS, self-propelled howitzers, and loitering munitions. It is the largest-ever U.S. arms export package to Taiwan.
The contract disclosed by Taiwan's Ministry of National Defense is part of a 34.9 billion Taiwan dollar (about 1.52 trillion won) drone procurement deal. Regarding the introduction of U.S.-made drones, Taiwan's Ministry of National Defense said it would "strengthen defense capabilities in response to enemy threats surrounding the Taiwan Strait."
China is pushing back against U.S. arms sales to Taiwan ahead of the U.S.-China summit scheduled for next month.