Around 250 FIM-92 Stinger MANPADS (Man-Portable Air-Defense System) missiles, torpedo service-life extension packs, and Standard Missile 2 spare modules are among the latest batch of arms that Taiwan is to take delivery of from the United States for its navy and marine corps.
Taiwan’s National Defense Ministry announced the implementation of the deal, worth NT$13.35 billion (US$453.6 million), on Monday.
“Shipments are already on the way,” a Taiwanese defense official told the Central News Agency.
The Stinger missiles are of the lightweight, shoulder-fired, infrared-homing surface-to-air type but are versatile enough to be launched from tanks, other vehicles and helicopters.
The lethality and economy of these missiles have long been proved in numerous wars including the Soviet incursion in Afghanistan and the Syrian Civil War since their introduction in the early 1980s by the US Army. They are used by militaries across the globe.
It is rumored that the US Secret Service has Stinger missiles to defend the president, a notion that has never been dispelled.
The Taiwanese Army will take delivery of the missiles later this year.
In addition to marine infantry battalions, units slated to receive the Stinger missiles include the navy’s Guang Hua VI-class fast attack boats and Tuo Jiang-class corvettes, which currently lack adequate anti-aircraft weaponry, Taipei Times reported, citing a source in the Defense Ministry.
The Stinger missiles are meant to provide much-needed anti-aircraft firepower to the navy’s smaller combat craft and augment the survivability of ships and marines, while increasing the attrition rate of a foe’s air units, the source said.
The deals were signed with the American Institute in Taiwan – Washington’s de facto embassy on the island Beijing insists is a renegade province of China – in December 2015 after the Barack Obama administration cleared the way for such sale, at a time when Sino-US ties were still amicable.
The stated contractual time frame for the Stinger missile deal covers 2017 to 2020.
“Standard Missile” refers to a family of US-made shipborne guided missiles. Analysts say it’s likely that the spare modules sold to Taiwan are for the RIM-67 Standard ER extended-range surface-to-air and anti-ship missiles, for Taiwan to assemble its own copycat versions to fend off an invasion from the People’s Republic of China in the event of a war, as well as to discourage the People’s Liberation Army’s incessant sea-air intrusions into Taiwan’s defense zones since last year.
The actual commencement of delivery of these arms will once again rile Beijing, though the Chinese Foreign Ministry is yet to state any response.
Venugopal Gopalsamy China doesn’t need to invade. Time will see Taiwan dropped nicely in to China’s lap; possibly as a result of some dodgy deal cook up between China & the US. Pragmatism & time will work in China’s favour.
I call on the Chinese congress to make available seats for all Taiwanese Parliamentarians in exchange for two seats in the Taiwanese legislature in a bid to speed up unification and promote peace.
Jack Sung your a genius sir, I believe everything what you said, all are genuine, exact and accurate.
Kier Valdez no one knows the exact amount of nuclear warheads China has. No one also knows the exact amount of $billions China spends on its military. Even the CIA suspects the numbers might be more higher than what is given on the media.
Venugopal Gopalsamy
You like bull shit?! Is that what you’re trying to preach here? 😀
Bull shit
Ipe Almenario
Yes, I know what they have. Taiwan’s air force will be rendered useless against a war with mainland China. If Taiwan were to wage a war with another Asian country, then ROC Taiwan’s Air Force will be effective.
Those Stingers will augment what Taiwan already have. It is foolish to even think that "Taiwan has no effective air defense capabilities", they have combat aircrafts such as F-16s and Dassault Mirage 2000. And last I checked Taiwan has 400 of them.
Oh, did I forgot to mention they also have Patriot Missile, Sky Bow SAM and AAA guns as well?!
梁雪強
The impact of the Stinger on the outcome of the war is contested, particularly in the translation between the impact on the tactical battlefield to the strategic level withdrawal, and the influence the first had on the second.[16] Dr. Robert F. Baumann (of the Staff College at Fort Leavenworth) described its impact on "Soviet tactical operations" as "unmistakable". [17][18] This opinion was shared by Yossef Bodansky.[19][16] Soviet, and later, Russian, accounts give little significance to the Stinger for strategically ending the war.[14][20][21]
According to the 1993 US US Air Defense Artillery Yearbook, the Mujahideen gunners used the supplied Stingers to score approximately 269 total aircraft kills in about 340 engagements, a 79-percent kill ratio.[22] If this report is accurate, Stingers would be responsible for over half of the 451 Soviet aircraft losses in Afghanistan.[16] But these statistics are based on Mujahedin self-reporting, which is of unknown reliability. Selig Harrison rejects such figures, quoting a Russian general who claims the United States "greatly exaggerated" Soviet and Afghan aircraft losses during the war. According to Soviet figures, in 1987-1988, only 35 aircraft and 63 helicopters were destroyed by all causes.[23] The Pakistan Army fired twenty-eight Stingers at enemy aircraft without a single kill.[16]
However, Soviet Material losses were as follows:
451 aircraft (includes 333 helicopters)
147 tanks
1,314 IFV/APCs
433 artillery guns and mortars
11,369 cargo and fuel tanker trucks.
All above information comes from Wikipedia.
We believe the best way to defend Taiwan is to fight just like what Churchill had said:
“We shall defend our Island, whatever the cost may be, we shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets, we shall fight in the hills; we shall never surrender.”
China possess only 250 to 300 nuclear warheads, compare to America with almost 7000 nuclear deployed and ready for tactical deployment anywhere in the world, so much enough to destroy the whole humankind. China in reality is far very far compare TO America.THis is all known even 1960 and beyond
And keep in mind that the last two U.S. presidential candidates seriously contemplated negotiating Taiwan away to CPC China for something in return. Officially CPC rejected, but behind closed doors!?! Who really knows?!?
It would be suicidal for communist China’s helicopter pilots to mess with Taiwan’s army armed with Stinger missiles.
You’ve overestimated the numbers of Soviet downed aircraft that can be attributable to the Stinger. The Vietnamese didn’t have Stingers. And no, the Stingers will not be the key to turning a less than a week invasion into years. lol…. … That’s stretching it into fantasy world.
I agree. Taking territory by force is never easy, but China’s consideration of the USA as a deterrent is diminishing. Even America’s direct military involvement in the event of China militarily conquering Taiwan is not guaranteed. That being said, China doesn’t have any intention to militarily invade Taiwan regardless of the BS bar room talks. And the "ultimate truth" you’re speaking is partially true and limited in analysis.
Timothy McFadden
You have no clue. I read only about half of your delusional rant because you don’t know who and why a militia would use the Stinger type of weapon. When you have something truthful and relevant, I would like to hear it. Your general statements reveal only your average, general understanding. Nice try, but it doesn’t cut it.
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The Stinger missiles will turn China’s invasion which expected to last in weeks, into years of Vietnam war or Afghanistan war were over 200 Soviet aircrafts shoot down by CIA supported 340 Stinger missiles. Only such nightmare will discourage China’s intension to invade democratic Taiwan.
Edward, it’s amazing. EVERYTHING you said was wrong. Absolutely everything. 1. Taiwan has effective air defense capabilities or the Chinese would attack. Buying new missiles keeps that air defense capability effective and up to day. You must be totally ignorant of military affairs to have missed that one. Or you’re a stooge of the murderous thugs in Beijing. 2. Pretty much the same as 2. Every effective military in the world strives to maintain an AA capability as well as an effective air force. None of this is new. How did you miss the brief? 3: Nothing said in the article indicates that. Your total ignorance is once again displayed. 4: Taiwan’s first effective defense are it’s missiles, both US and Taiwanese made, that can hit targets anywhere in the straits. It’s second effective defense are hundreds of main battle tanks and several thousand artillery pieces that can slaughter the landing craft before they touch ground. Guerilla warfare is a totally useless option- the PLA proved in Tibet and again in Tienanmin Square that they are willing to exterminate as many people as needed to rule. Taiwan is too small for guerilla war and planning on it is a waste of time. 5: Again, wrong. The current status shows that Taiwan’s military is sufficient to deter Chinese invasion or they would not be posturing and threatening like the chinese equivalent of the Big Bad Wolf facing the house made of brick. 6: LOL back at you, oh ignorant one. Saddam Hussein was contemptuous of American weapons as well. Until they destroyed him military. You know who’s big, shiny weapons are paraded a lot and have NEVER been used in combat? The PLA’s! China has a ton of missiles, planes, tanks and warships that have NEVER been tested in combat. Whatever Beijing is paying you as one of their propaganda mouthpieces, they are NOT getting their moneys worth.
By purchasing Stingers, ROC Taiwan Ministry of Defence is admitting the following:
1. Taiwan has no effective air defense capabilities.
2. Taiwan’s Air Force can be considered ineffectual in the event of war.
3. Taiwan’s skies will be in the effective control of mainland China.
4. Taiwan’s last effective defense is guerrilla style warfare.
5. The present conventional makeup of Taiwan’s military is completely useless.
6. Don’t buy hundreds of millions or billion USD $ items because they’re useless big ticket items that are only flown or paraded on national day or media public relations day.
😀 lol… …