The United States has approved the $360 million sale of more than 1,000 small armed drones to Taiwan, as the self-ruled island claimed by China aims to strengthen its asymmetrical warfare abilities with an eye on successful tactics used on the battlefield in Ukraine.
Taiwan will receive 720 Switchblade missiles and accompanying fire control systems worth $60.2 million, according to a release from the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) on Tuesday.
The US will also provide Taiwan with up to 291 Altius 600M loitering munitions and supporting components with a price tag of $300 million, the DSCA said.
The proposed sale comes as China increases military pressure on Taiwan, with extensive military exercises around it and almost daily warplane flights near the island.
China’s ruling Communist Party claims democratic Taiwan as its own, despite never having controlled it, and has vowed to “reunify” with the island, by force if necessary.
That’s $1 million per loitering munition? Meanwhile the Lancet is $20000, the Chinese equivalent is even less, and the Israeli-made IAI Harpy (sold to China, India, etc.) is about $70000.
I’d love to be a US defence contractor.
Taiwan will receive 720 Switchblade missiles and accompanying fire control systems worth $60.2 million
That’s $84K per drone missile. Those are comparable to the ones you mentioned. Also, you quoted the internal Lancet price for Russia. Their export price is $35K (and I feel like you are going to have to wait a long time to get any).
The “Altius 600” is the $1 million one. It’s much heavier and has a bigger payload.
The Altius 600 weighs 27 pounds and carries a maximum payload of 7 pounds. The Lancet weighs 12kg (~26 pounds) and carries a maximum payload of 3kg (~6.6 pounds).
What are you smoking?
