Author: Joe O’Connor, Shikhar Chaturvedi, Danielle Kremer, & Wyeth Lindberg
This week: Taiwan’s indigenously-produced Hai Kun submarine completed two more submergence tests, progress reports emerged on delivery of Brave Eagle trainer aircraft and T112 battle rifles; Minister of National Defense Wellington Koo warned about payments for HIMARS being due soon; and special budget updates, alongside weekly awards and solicitations.
Hai Kun Submarine Program Undergoes Additional Tests
On Tuesday, the Hai Kun (SS-711), a prototype of Taiwan’s indigenous submarine program, undertook its seventh submergence test off Kaohsiung. Marking its 13th sea trial and the first in over a month, analysts speculated that the submarine’s crew did torpedo testing and handling, since certain equipment borrowed from the United States must be returned.
On Wednesday, the Hai Kun departed again for an eighth test, and appeared to undertake a more comprehensive exercise, including navigation, diving maneuvers, and live-fire torpedo drills, per observers speaking to CNA. Much like the prior test, a large focus appears to be on torpedo testing and overnight testing of seaworthiness.
News on Brave Eagle Trainers and T112 Rifle Development
An MND report to the Legislative Yuan revealed on Monday that the Air Force has received 56 “Brave Eagle” advanced jet trainer aircraft so far this year and is expected to receive the remaining 10 by the end of the year. A variant of the Indigenous Defense Fighter jet, the Brave Eagle has been in production and procurement since 2017.
The same MND report, and an ensuing hearing on Wednesday, revealed that failure rates of new T112 battle rifles will be investigated by the Armaments Bureau, who has also allocated funds for T112 red-dot sight production, to be completed and issued as standard equipment by 2029. The failures of some 500 T112s in ROC Military Police service, including claimed poor barrel quality, have not been reported to the Bureau, but an investigation will occur anyway, per Director Lt. Gen. Lin Wen-hsiang.
MND Officials Warn Payment for HIMARS Due End of May
In the same Legislative Yuan hearing as above on Wednesday, Minister of National Defense Wellington Koo and Director of the MND’s Department of Strategic Planning, Lt. Gen. Huang Wen-chi, warned that the final deadline is May 31 for initial payment of High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS) from the U.S.; and that failure to pay would mean procurement cancellation and further delays if Taiwan wished to re-apply for sale of those systems.
Huang further stated that the initial payment is valued at NT$800 million (US$25.49 million), and was originally due on March 30, but after coordination between the MND and U.S. authorities, the deadline was set back to late May. DPP legislators, hearing this, expressed concern regarding the deadline, particularly due to delays and lack of agreement in passing a supplemental defense budget, which will fund procurement of HIMARS, as well as Paladin self-propelled howitzers, Javelin anti-armor missiles, and TOW-2B anti-armor missiles.
Special Budget Updates
On Tuesday, Kuomintang members of the Legislative Yuan and party members met internally to achieve a compromise on the party’s topline ceiling for the special defense budget, particularly after last week, where divisions began to appear and KMT Vice Chairman Chi Lin-lien threatened to expel LY Speaker Han Kuo-yu from the party for his support of NT$800 billion in spending. At this week’s meeting, KMT legislator Lai Shih-bao made a compromise proposal, consisting of the present NT$380 billion (US$12 billion) ceiling, and amending it to NT$800 billion (US$25.49 billion) once additional Letters of Offer and Acceptance (LOAs) from the United States are received. Lai did note, however, that some KMT members, who are seeking re-election in local elections this year, favor a flat NT$800 billion ceiling to assist their electoral chances.
On Wednesday, LY Speaker Han Kuo-yu convened the fourth round of caucus negotiations on the special defense budget, which like previous sessions, failed to achieve consensus on the topline budget ceiling, despite recessing to allow more private consultations. Per Han, the LY’s standard 30-day “freeze” policy has elapsed, allowing the three competing proposals (one by the Lai administration + DPP, one by the Kuomintang, and one by the Taiwan People’s Party) to advance to floor consideration. LY consideration of proposals could happen as early as Friday, May 8, per Han.
Weekly Awards / Solicitations
On Thursday, the Air Force Command’s Military Mission to the United States awarded the American Institute in Taiwan a NT$10.07 billion (US$319.42 million) contract for non-standard aircraft spare parts and accessories. The contract is to be fulfilled in Taichung (Daya District) Chiayi (Shuishang Township), Tainan (Rende District), Kaohsiung (Gangshan District), Pingtung (Pingtung), Taitung (Taitung), Hualien (Xincheng Township, Ji’an Township).
Also on Thursday, the Military Police Command solicited bids for the purchase of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) for diversified administrative applications, worth NT$247.20 million (US$7.83 million).