US Launches Over $11.1 Billion Arms Sale to Taiwan Involving Self-Propelled Howitzers and 8 Types of Equipment

Taiwanese authorities have announced that the United States has initiated an arms sale to Taiwan worth over $11.1 billion (45.365 billion ringgit).

In a press release posted on its official website on the 18th, Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense stated that at 5:30 p.m. Eastern Time on the 17th, the US government notified Congress of eight separate cases of arms sales to Taiwan. These include the Taiwan Tactical Network (TTN) and Tactical Awareness Kit (TAK), spare parts for the Army’s AH-1W helicopters, M109A7 self-propelled howitzers, continued purchase of HIMARS long-range precision strike systems, continued purchase of TOW missiles, anti-armor UAV missile systems, continued purchase of Naval Javelin anti-armor missiles, and overhaul of repairable components of Harpoon missiles. The total value is $1.11054 billion (45.387 billion ringgit). After the Congressional notification process, the sales are expected to formally take effect in about one month.

The Ministry of National Defense pointed out that five of the US-approved cases—M109A7 self-propelled howitzers, continued purchase of HIMARS long-range precision strike systems, continued purchase of TOW missiles, anti-armor UAV missile systems, and continued purchase of Naval Javelin anti-armor missiles—are all items listed in the special budget for strengthening defensive resilience and asymmetric combat capabilities. The Ministry will process the signing of purchase agreements for these cases according to procedures, following the Legislative Yuan’s approval of the special budget.

The Ministry emphasized that the US, based on the Taiwan Relations Act and the "Six Assurances," continues to assist Taiwan in maintaining sufficient self-defense capabilities and in rapidly establishing strong deterrence and asymmetric operational advantages, which are foundational to regional peace and stability. The Ministry expressed sincere gratitude to the US for its decision.

This is the third arms sale that the US is advancing for Taiwan since November. On November 13, Washington approved the sale of $330 million (1.349 billion ringgit) worth of fighter jet and aircraft parts to Taiwan—the first such transaction since President Trump took office in January. 

On November 17, the US Department of Defense announced the sale to Taiwan of an advanced air defense missile system (NASAMS), valued at nearly $700 million (2.861 billion ringgit), which has been combat tested in Ukraine.