Taiwan has decided to purchase an upgraded version of the U.S. Lockheed Martin Patriot surface-to-air missile to boost its air defense capabilities against the growing threat from the Chinese Communist Party, the Air Force said Wednesday (March 31).
In recent months, the Chinese Communist Party military has greatly increased its military activities in the Taiwan Strait. Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense (MND) reported on March 26 that a total of 20 CCP military aircraft entered Taiwan’s air defense identification zone that day. This is the largest single-day intrusion by the Taiwan Ministry of Defense since it began disclosing information about Chinese military aircraft disturbing Taiwan last year. The massive intrusion of Chinese military aircraft into Taiwan’s airspace marks a sharp escalation of tensions in the Taiwan Strait.
Reuters quoted Taiwan’s Air Force as saying that the upgraded Patriot 3 missiles are of the extended range (MSE) type and are scheduled to be delivered and deployed in batches in 2025 and 2026. Previously, Taiwan’s Patriot 3 missiles purchased from the United States were all delivered in 2017. The latest procurement plan is for additional purchases.
The Air Force did not disclose how many missiles Taiwan plans to buy, citing the sensitivity of the matter.
A Taiwan Air Force spokesman told Reuters, “These procurement plans are based on the threat from the enemy.” The Air Force will continue to “enhance its defense capabilities,” it added. The spokesman said the Air Force is “cautiously optimistic” about the progress of the procurement.
A report submitted to the Legislative Yuan by Taiwan’s Defense Ministry said the decision to buy the new Patriot missiles was made during a meeting between Taiwan and former U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration in 2019, Reuters said.
President Joe Biden’s administration has not announced any arms sales to Taiwan since taking office in January, despite his pledge of “rock-solid” support for the country.
The Patriot 3 Extended Range Missile is reportedly more advanced than Taiwan’s current Patriot 3 in that it has a longer and more advanced range and increased “hit-to-kill” targeting capability. In addition, the Patriot 3 Extended Range Missile is larger in size, and a current Patriot 3 launcher can hold 4 groups of 4, 4-pack Patriot 3 missile groups, 16 in total. The MSE, on the other hand, must use the new 12-component launcher, and a launch vehicle can carry only 12 Ai3 MSE missiles. The Ai3 Extended Range Missile (PAC3-MSE) is currently deployed only by the U.S. Army and Japan Self-Defense Forces missile units.
The Chinese Communist Party has consistently expressed opposition to U.S. arms sales to Taiwan, demanding that the U.S. stop the sales and announcing sanctions against U.S. companies associated with the sales. However, it is not clear what form China’s sanctions will take.
The U.S., like most countries, does not have official diplomatic relations with Taiwan, but there are laws governing the sale of arms to Taiwan by the U.S. government. Under the U.S. Taiwan Relations Act, the United States provides Taiwan with “defense articles and defense services in quantities necessary to enable it to maintain an adequate self-defense capability.
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