Raytheon has secured a $698.9-million US Department of Defense contract to supply Taiwan with NASAMS air-defense fire units, a major step in Taipei’s push to modernize its missile shield. Manufacturing and integration activities will take place in Massachusetts, with the program expected to conclude by February 2031. The award is financed under the Pentagon’s fiscal 2026 Foreign Military Sales program and follows a recent US approval of $330 million in fighter aircraft spare parts for Taiwan.
Taiwan’s 2026 defense budget, released in September, listed NASAMS for the first time, assigning approximately NT$35.7 billion ($1.1 billion) for sensors, launchers, training, and preparatory work. To ensure oversight, Taipei has dispatched two officers to the US, where they will track contract milestones, monitor component deliveries, and coordinate logistics across Raytheon’s supply chain.
NASAMS is expected to significantly bolster Taiwan’s homeland defense, especially as tensions with China continue to rise. The system’s automated surveillance network, advanced tracking tools, and integrated command-and-control software enable it to detect, classify, and engage airborne threats within seconds. The newly acquired launchers will operate with two upgraded radar systems, ensuring improved detection performance and resilience against jamming.
According to Taiwan’s Air Force, NASAMS will be deployed across a variety of strategic locations—including air bases, naval ports, and radar installations—to form a highly mobile, layered defense grid. Once fielded, it will work alongside Patriot batteries and domestic missile systems to create a rapid-response shield capable of protecting critical sites and maintaining airspace security under high-threat conditions.
