Author: Joe O’Connor
Contributing Researchers: Eric Gomez, Jaime Ocon, Reed Bishop, Sean Dilallo
See this week’s Taiwan Arms Tracker update, covering news relating to arms sales, indigenous production, and defense procurement in Taiwan, all below!
ROCAF Provides MQ-9B Delivery Update to LY
In an LY hearing on Thursday, Air Force Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Lee Ching-jan stated that the first 2 aircraft are expected to be delivered in the third quarter of 2026. In response to questions from KMT lawmakers, Lee reported that US end-user restrictions do not apply to telemetry and intelligence data collected by the drones, with data going to Taiwanese ground stations at Chiayi and Hualien Air Bases.
Mk 48 Torpedo and MS-110 Delivery Updates
After last week’s LY delay report, Navy Chief of Staff Vice Adm. Chiu Chun-jung clarified that the delivery timeline of Mk 48 torpedoes has slipped from 2026 to 2028 and that closeout has slipped to 2030. Maj. Gen. Huang Wen-chi, Director of the MND Strategic Planning Department, also stated that delivery of 6 MS-110 reconnaissance pods will begin in batches before the end of the year.
ROCN Announces Missile and Munitions Storage Plan
In its recent military investment budget, the ROCN has allocated NT$9.88 billion (US$639.66 million) for 2026-2029 for munition storage construction and renovation, via dispersed stockpiles and prepositioning. Only NT$30.97 million (US$1.0 million) will be appropriated for 2026, while the majority will be spent on construction during 2027-29.
First Batch of PAC-3 MSE Expected by End of Year
As a part of the proposed “T-Dome” air defense network announced by the Lai administration, it was announced Tuesday that batches of the PAC-3 Missile Segment Enhancement (MSE) will begin arriving in Taiwan by the end of this year, with completion in 2027. The MND is budgeting in the future for an additional 4 Patriot systems and more than 500 more PAC-3 MSEs to supplement.
Weekly Awards & Tenders: Tugboats, NVGs, Gun Cabinets
•On Tuesday, Naval Command solicited bids for procurement of new harbor tugboats, worth NT$807.57 million (US$26.08 million).
•Also on Tuesday, the Armaments Bureau’s Factory 205 awarded a NT$357.75 million (US$11.55 million) contract for procurement of T112 single-rifle storage cabinets.
•On Wednesday, the ROC Defense Mission to the US awarded a NT$122.99 million (US$3.97 million) contract to the AIT for production of helicopter night-vision goggles.
SOURCE: Taiwanese Government E-Procurement System
