TSAMTO, August 15. The package of military assistance to Taiwan in the amount of $ 345 million, which the United States announced at the end of July, should include four MQ-9A "Reaper" reconnaissance UAVs of the MALE class.
This is reported by the Taiwanese agency CNA, citing an anonymous military source. As stated, Washington is still working on dismantling some of the most modern and "sensitive" UAV components. For this reason, the exact date of their delivery has not yet been determined.
The source added that in addition to the four MQ-9A, the assistance package includes the provision of training services and the supply of ammunition for the Armed Forces of Taiwan.
When asked for comment, Taiwan's Ministry of National Defense declined to provide CNA with additional information about the aid package, citing the requirements of the US-Taiwan agreement.
Earlier, commenting on the delivery of the MQ-9A, associate professor of the Institute for Strategic Studies of Tamkan University Lin Ying-yu told CNA that the UAVs will expand the capabilities of the Taiwanese Armed Forces to conduct reconnaissance and will be able to quickly transmit the data obtained using satellite communication systems.
In 2022, Taiwan also ordered 4 MQ-9B "SiGardian" UAVs, the total purchase budget of which is 21.72 billion. tyv. USD. Their delivery is expected in 2025.
On July 28, US President Joe Biden announced the allocation of $ 345 million in military aid to Taiwan, using powers that give him the right to transfer weapons from the US Armed Forces without Congressional approval in case of crisis situations.
Details of the military assistance were not disclosed, but according to unofficial information, the package includes intelligence and surveillance equipment, man-portable air defense missile systems (MANPADS), small arms and missiles.
Earlier, the US Congress approved the transfer of weapons to Taiwan in the amount of $ 1 billion. In the budget for 2023, he called on the administration to eliminate the backlog in the supply of weapons, expressing concern that replenishing the arsenals of the Armed Forces of Taiwan in the event of a military conflict would be practically impossible.
