Taiwan is considering the purchase of nine more NASAMS air defense systems to bolster its protective shield against aerial threats, as reported by Taiwan News.
The additional batteries are expected to safeguard vital radar stations and key Republic of China Air Force installations. Previously, three NASAMS units were approved under the T-Dome initiative, a sophisticated, layered defense framework designed to enhance detection, tracking, and interception capabilities across the island. Expanding the fleet would support Taipei’s strategy of strengthening defenses against low- and medium-altitude incursions near high-value targets.
Developed jointly by Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace and Raytheon Technologies, NASAMS is capable of engaging up to 72 simultaneous threats, ranging from unmanned aerial vehicles to cruise missiles. A standard battery integrates AN/TPS-77 and AN/TPS-78 radar systems and can deploy interceptors such as the AIM-9X Sidewinder, AIM-120 AMRAAM, and AMRAAM-ER.
Its flexible configuration permits radar and launcher elements to be dispersed over distances exceeding 20 kilometers from the command center, maximizing coverage while complicating enemy targeting efforts.
Last November, the United States Department of Defense granted Raytheon a $698.9 million contract for NASAMS deliveries to Taiwan, with manufacturing based in Tewksbury, Massachusetts, and completion projected for early 2031. The move follows Washington’s 2024 approval of a broader $1.9 billion defense package that includes NASAMS and advanced AN/TPS-77 and AN/TPS-78 radar systems.
