US signals MQ-9 sale to Taiwan
FMS package would mark first time that US applies revised UAS export control policy
Taiwan is set to procure US-made MQ-9 Reaper UAS to boost its ISR capabilities, after the US State Department approved a $600 million FMS package.
The deal was announced by the Defense Security Cooperation Agency on 3 November. It includes four MQ-9s plus static and mobile ground control stations; MX-20 multi-spectral targeting systems and spares; SeaVue maritime multi-role patrol radars; Sage 750 ESM systems; SATCOM, radio communication and IFF equipment; plus contractor engineering, technical, and logistics support services.
General Atomic Aeronautical Systems will be the prime contractor, with potential industrial offsets to be agreed with the Taiwanese government.
As the MQ-9B is listed as an MTCR Category I UAS system, it is subject to Enhanced End Use Monitoring under the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR).
In view of this, a State Department official noted that the likely MQ-9 sale to Taiwan is significant because it marks the first time that the US has applied its revised UAS export policy, to invoke national discretion to treat the transfer of a Category I UAS with a maximum airspeed of under 800km/h as Category II.
The US remains committed to the MTCR, the State Department official said, but it ‘will continue to work with MTCR Partners to modernize controls on Category I UAVs’.
As part of our promise to deliver comprehensive coverage to our Defence Insight and Premium News subscribers, our curated defence news content provides the latest industry updates, contract awards and programme milestones.
More from Uncrewed Vehicles
-
![Third order for German 2-in-1 drone for Ukraine]()
Third order for German 2-in-1 drone for Ukraine
On 31 May, Quantum Systems announced that the Ukrainian MoD had ordered 300 additional Vector drones under a third order that the German government is funding.
-
![US Army moves forward on future tactical UAS without AeroVironment]()
US Army moves forward on future tactical UAS without AeroVironment
AeroVironment has been dropped from the hunt to provide the US Army with a Future Tactical UAS (FTUAS), leaving Griffon Aerospace, Northrop Grumman, Sierra Nevada and Textron Systems in the running.
-
![Navantia, SAES and Perseo to jointly develop line of uncrewed underwater vehicles]()
Navantia, SAES and Perseo to jointly develop line of uncrewed underwater vehicles
At FEINDEF in Madrid, Navantia, SAES and Perseo announced an intention to develop a line of uncrewed underwater vehicles (UUVs).
