The U.S. Army has awarded Raytheon Co. a new production contract for NASAMS air defense systems intended for Taiwan, further strengthening military cooperation between Washington and Taipei amid increasing Chinese military pressure.
According to the official notification from the U.S. Department of Defense, Raytheon Co., headquartered in Tewksbury, Massachusetts, received a firm-fixed-price contract totaling USD 698,948,760 for the production of firing units of the National Advanced Surface to Air Missile System (NASAMS). The work will be carried out in Tewksbury and is expected to be completed by February 28, 2031. The awarded funds come from the Foreign Military Sales program (Taiwan) for fiscal year 2026. The contracting activity is the Army Contracting Command, located at Redstone Arsenal, Alabama (code W31P4Q-26-C-0002).
Progress of the NASAMS Program for Taiwan
According to information from Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense, the Armed Forces expect to receive the first NASAMS system by late 2025, as part of the package approved in 2024 by the U.S. Department of State. This original package, valued at more than USD 1 billion, includes three NASAMS systems, AN/MPQ-64F1 Sentinel radars, and a batch of AMRAAM-ER missiles.
NASAMS, jointly developed by Norwegian company Kongsberg and U.S.-based Raytheon, is intended to strengthen short- and medium-range air defense on the island in response to the near-daily Chinese military activities around Taiwanese territory.
Taiwan’s Ministry of Defense also indicated that the first deployments will be carried out in Greater Taipei, with systems positioned in the Songshan and Tamsui districts—areas considered key to protecting the capital. Additionally, the new radars associated with the system are designed to enhance detection capabilities and withstand electronic interference.
New Purchases Confirmed in 2025
In February 2025, several publications from Taiwan’s public procurement system confirmed the signing of additional contracts for three more NASAMS systems, for a total of USD 761.94 million. The documents state that the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) and the Taiwan Defense Mission in the United States signed a contract valid from January 14, 2025, to December 31, 2030.
Local media consulted sources involved in the process, who confirmed that this agreement is aimed at equipping the Taiwanese Air Force with three additional systems, in line with the sales authorization granted by the United States in 2024. This authorization covered up to four NASAMS systems, along with associated equipment.
Strengthening the Island’s Air Defense
Taiwanese authorities reiterated that the arrival of the first system at the end of 2025 will mark a significant step in strengthening national air defense. According to the Ministry of Defense, this added capability is essential to counter Chinese military maneuvers and operations, which are considered a constant threat to regional security.
The new contract awarded by the U.S. Army to Raytheon confirms the progress of existing agreements and the continued advancement of Taiwan’s air defense modernization program.
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