The US-Taiwan Business Council Comments on the Proposed Sale of 18 MK-48 Mod6 Advanced Technology (AT) Heavy Weight Torpedoes (HWT) to Taiwan

May 20, 2020

The US-Taiwan Business Council today welcomed the announcement of a possible Foreign Military Sale of 18 MK-48 Mod6 Advanced Technology (AT) Heavy Weight Torpedoes (HWT) and related equipment to Taiwan. The Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) delivered the required certifications notifying Congress of the proposed arms sale on May 20, 2020.

The published Congressional Notification (transmittal number 20-07) is for a total value of approximately US$180 million. The notification includes 18 MK-48 Mod6 ATHWTs, as well as spare parts, support and test equipment, shipping and shipping containers, operator manuals, technical documentation, training, U.S. Government and contractor engineering, technical and logistics support services, and other related elements of logistics support.[1]

The US-Taiwan Business Council is encouraged by these Congressional notifications. Council President Rupert Hammond-Chambers said that “the return to regular arms sales has become a hallmark of the past several years. Taiwan’s commitment to growing its stock of munitions is important, and these MK-48 torpedoes will add to that stock. Taiwan’s balanced procurement priorities ensure that larger platforms – such as F-16s – are prioritized, while they are also tending to munitions stocks, life-cycle support, and services. It is the totality of all arms sales that helps Taiwan create a complete defense.”

Hammond-Chambers went on to say “The timing of the sale is also significant. Today, Tsai Ing-wen was sworn in to her second term as President of Taiwan. The United States, through this sale, is telegraphing that its support for Taiwan’s democracy isn’t just rhetorical – with positive statements on her inauguration coming from Secretary of State Pompeo. U.S. support is also material, as we maintain our commitment to providing Taiwan with weapons to deter the threat posed by the People’s Republic of China to Taiwan’s democratic way of life.”

[1] See the DSCA website at http://www.dsca.mil/major-arms-sales

USTBC Comments on Sale of 18 MK-48 Mod6 Advanced Technology Heavy Weight Torpedoes to Taiwan

 

Related Media

April 1, 2011 Press Releases

US-Taiwan Business Council Supports Senator Richard Lugar’s Concerns Over Taiwan’s Deteriorating Airpower Situation

In a letter dated April 1, 2011, Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Foreign Relations Senator Richard Lugar (R-IN) wrote to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on the issue of U.S. defense equipment sales to Taiwan. The US-Taiwan Business Council shares Senator Lugar’s expressed concerns over Taiwan’s deteriorating airpower situation, and supports his […]

August 17, 2006 Press Releases

Senior U.S. and Taiwan Defense Officials to Deliver Keynotes at US-Taiwan Defense Industry Conference 2006

William Greenwalt, Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Industrial Policy, and Ko Chen-Heng, Vice Minister of Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense, will deliver keynote addresses at the US–Taiwan Defense Industry Conference 2006. This event, hosted by the US-Taiwan Business Council, will take place September 10-12, 2006 in Denver, Colorado. The conference focuses on strategic US-Taiwan […]

October 21, 2020 Press Releases

The US-Taiwan Business Council Comments on Three Proposed Foreign Military Sales to Taiwan for US$1.8113 billion

(Arlington, Virginia, October 21, 2020) The US-Taiwan Business Council today welcomed the announcement of three possible Foreign Military Sales to Taiwan of 135 AGM-84H Standoff Land Attack Missile Expanded Response (SLAM-ER) Missiles, 6 MS-110 Recce Pods, and 11 High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS) M142 Launchers, along with related equipment and support. The Defense Security […]

September 9, 2009 Press Releases

US-Taiwan Defense Industry Conference 2009 to Discuss Taiwan’s Strategy for Integration, Innovation, and Military Transition

The US-Taiwan Business Council today announced that it will host the 8th annual US-Taiwan Defense Industry Conference from September 27-29, 2009 in Charlottesville, Virginia. Keynote speakers at the conference will include Wallace “Chip” Gregson, Assistant Secretary of Defense for Asian & Pacific Security Affairs; David Shear, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for China, Hong Kong, […]

December 31, 2022 Press Releases

USTBC Press Releases

Please see press releases on the media section of the US-Taiwan Business Council’s main website at www.us-taiwan.org https://www.us-taiwan.org/media-center/

July 15, 2022 Press Releases

USTBC Comments on the Proposed FMS of Contractor Technical Assistance Support to Taiwan

Press Release:The US-Taiwan Business Council Comments on the Proposed Foreign Military Sale of Contractor Technical Assistance Support to Taiwan (Arlington, Virginia, July 15, 2022) The US-Taiwan Business Council today welcomed the announcement of a possible Foreign Military Sale to Taiwan of Blanket Order Contractor Technical Assistance Support, at an estimated cost of US$108 million. The […]