US plans to allow Taiwan to manufacture missiles for Stinger

The United States is considering allowing Taiwan to assemble and produce missiles for the Stinger air defence system on site to meet Taipei's requirements.

Here's What We Know

Taiwan is planning an additional purchase of nearly 2,000 Stinger missiles from the United States amid rising tensions with China.

According to the Liberty Times, a team of US officials plans to visit Taiwan's Chung Shan National Institute of Science and Technology next year to assess the state-owned enterprise's capabilities for weapons production.

The assessment will include the technical, production, and cybersecurity capabilities of the institute. If the institute meets US certification standards, production could begin in Taiwan as early as 2026.

In 2019, Taiwan ordered 500 Stingers: 250 each for the army and navy, with delivery expected by 2025. However, rising tensions in the Taiwan Strait have prompted the island to plan further increases in missile purchases.

It also plans to purchase 549 systems and 549 friend-or-foe transponders.

The missiles will be delivered in batches until 2031, and the cost of the procurement will be about $1.73 billion.

Source: Taiwan News