Taiwan expected to get AIM-120C7, AIM-9X
The Obama administration plans to supply state-of-the-art weapons for Taiwan’s existing F-16 fighter fleet as part of a potential $5.85 billion upgrade, a U.S. official involved in Taiwan policy said on Tuesday, amid a push to shape perceptions about the deal. “I do not have the impression that anything is being held back, frankly,” said the official, referring to Taipei’s request for technology involved in the “retrofit” of about 145 F-16 A/Bs sold by the United States in 1992.
The administration is set to notify Congress formally on Wednesday of the details of the F-16 upgrade package, requested by Taiwan in November 2009. Its broad outlines were briefed to foreign affairs committees in the Senate and House of Representatives on Friday.
It has sought to thread various diplomatic, military and strategic needles in rolling out the package while trying to send targeted, sometimes conflicting, messages to Beijing, Taipei and the U.S. Congress.
A U.S.-based expert on Taiwan’s military who asked not to be named said the air-to-air hardware included “basically everything” Taipei had sought, including the latest version of heat-seeking Raytheon Co AIM-9X Sidewinder missiles and all-weather-capable AIM-120C7 Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air missiles, or AMRAAM.
The deal also includes state-of-the-art active, electronically scanned array, or AESA, radar, said the expert who spoke anonymously to protect access to sensitive information.
Lockheed Martin Corp builds the F-16. Raytheon and Northrop Grumman Corp are expected to compete to supply the AESA radar sets.
