USTBC Welcomes the Sale to Taiwan of 4 MQ-9B SeaGuardian Surveillance Drones

November 3, 2020

US-Taiwan Business Council Green Logo

Press Release:
The US-Taiwan Business Council Welcomes the Sale to Taiwan of 4 MQ-9B SeaGuardian Surveillance Drones

(Arlington, Virginia, November 3, 2020)

The US-Taiwan Business Council today welcomed the announcement of a possible Foreign Military Sale to Taiwan of 4 Weapons-Ready MQ-9B Remotely Piloted Aircraft and related equipment. The Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) delivered the required certification notifying Congress of this proposed arms sale on November 3, 2020.

The published Congressional Notification (transmittal number 20-74) has a total expected program cost of US$600 million. The proposed sale consists of 4 Weapons-Ready MQ-9B Remotely Piloted Aircraft, 2 Fixed Ground Control Stations, 2 Mobile Ground Control Stations, and 14 Embedded Global Positioning System/Inertial Navigations Systems (EGI) with Selective Availability Anti-Spoofing Module. It also includes targeting and electronic surveillance measures systems, SeaVue patrol radars, data terminals, transponders, engines, secure communications and other equipment, spare and repair parts, training and engineering support, and other related elements of logistical and program support.

In response to this notification, the fifth involving Taiwan within the last two weeks, US-Taiwan Business Council President Rupert Hammond-Chambers said, “Taiwan continues to expand its existing intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) infrastructure. Adding the SeaGuardian platform will provide Taiwan with substantial new maritime surveillance capabilities. This is a crucial mission for the Taiwan Navy, particularly given the PLA’s aggressive incursions in regional waters and in the Taiwan Strait. We can expect Taiwan to further expand this capability in the coming years.

Hammond-Chambers added “Taiwan is hitting its stride in its efforts to modernize and develop its military capacity. SeaGuardian is a top-rated platform, and this sale reflects an adjustment by the Trump Administration to make available new capabilities – such as drones – to U.S. friends and allies to complicate PLA planning. American policy towards Taiwan should indeed include consideration of all platforms that enhance Taiwan’s defensive posture while also improving Northeast Asian security.

Source: See the DSCA website at https://www.dsca.mil/press-media/major-arms-sales

Related Media

May 28, 2020 Press Releases

New USTBC Report Offers Comprehensive Analysis of Taiwan’s Private Equity Environment

Press Release: New US-Taiwan Business Council Report Offers Comprehensive Analysis of Taiwan’s Private Equity Environment (Arlington, Virginia, May 28, 2020) On May 28, 2020, the US-Taiwan Business Council released a report entitled “An Assessment and Analysis of Taiwan’s Private Equity Environment.” Through case studies and analysis, the report details why it would benefit Taiwan to […]

Hehuanshan
September 15, 2020 Press Releases

USTBC Joins the US-Taiwan Bilateral Trade Agreement Coalition

  (Arlington, Virginia and Taipei, Taiwan – September 15, 2020) The US-Taiwan Bilateral Trade Agreement Coalition launched on September 15, 2020. The Coalition will provide a mechanism for businesses and organizations across a wide range of sectors to express their support for negotiating and signing a Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA) between the United States and […]

April 15, 2019 Press Releases

USTBC Comments on Proposed Foreign Military Sale to Taiwan

Press Release: Proposed Foreign Military Sale to Taiwan of F-16 Pilot Training & Maintenance/Logistics Support (Arlington, Virginia, April 15, 2019) The US-Taiwan Business Council today welcomed the announcement of a possible Foreign Military Sale of F-16 Pilot Training and Maintenance/Logistics Support to Taiwan at an estimated cost of US$500 million. The Defense Security Cooperation Agency […]