Based on statements from Taiwan’s Ministry of Defense, the local Armed Forces expect to receive the first NASAMS air defense system by the end of 2025, as part of the acquisition of a total of three units purchased from the United States. This addition aims to strengthen Taiwan’s short- and medium-range air defense capabilities amid the nearly daily threatening military activities carried out by China around the island.

The National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile Systems (NASAMS), developed by the Norwegian company Kongsberg and the U.S.-based Raytheon, are part of a purchase request authorized by the U.S. Department of State in October 2024 for over USD 1 billion. The package also includes AN/MPQ-64F1 Sentinel radars associated with the system.
Regarding deployment, local authorities revealed that the NASAMS systems will initially be installed in Greater Taipei, with one system in the Songshan District and the other in the Tamsui District of New Taipei. Both locations are deemed critical for defending the capital, according to the Ministry of Defense. It was also noted that the two new radar systems aim to improve detection rates and will be resistant to electronic interference or jamming.

Currently, Taiwan’s Armed Forces operate several missile-based air defense systems, including domestically developed systems like the Sky Bow II and III, as well as systems provided by the United States over the decades. The most significant of these is the Patriot PAC-3 missile batteries in service with Taiwan’s Air Force. Additionally, the MIM-23 HAWK missiles, recently decommissioned, have been replaced with locally developed systems.
For a brief overview, the NASAMS air defense system, a product of cooperation between Raytheon and Kongsberg, is a comprehensive air defense solution combining short- and medium-range effectors based on AIM-9 Sidewinder and AIM-120 AMRAAM missiles launched from ground-based systems. These are paired with the AN/MPQ-64 Sentinel radar and a fire distribution center. As its adoption has expanded across various nations, the system has undergone updates and modernizations, enabling it to deploy the latest versions of these missiles and incorporate advanced radars, such as the GhostEye MR sensor.
As part of the package authorized by the Department of State, in addition to launch systems and AN/MPQ-64F1 radars, the deal includes a batch of 123 AMRAAM-ER surface-to-air missiles, guidance sections, containers, spare parts, and documentation. The total operation, with Raytheon as the primary contractor, amounts to USD 1.16 billion.
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