Raytheon has received a firm-fixed-price contract valued at $698,948,760 to produce National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System (NASAMS) fire units for Taiwan, according to an announcement from the U.S. Department of War.
Issued by the U.S. Army Contracting Command at Redstone Arsenal, the award represents a key element of a larger Foreign Military Sales package aimed at reinforcing Taiwan’s ground-based air defense.
Amid rising Chinese military pressure and increased concerns about cruise missile and drone threats, the move signals Washington’s commitment to ensuring Taiwan can safeguard its critical infrastructure and armed forces.
NASAMS is a short- to medium-range air defense system co-developed by Raytheon and Norway’s Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace. It is designed to counter aircraft, helicopters, UAVs, and cruise missiles.
The system employs the AIM-120 AMRAAM as its primary interceptor — the same missile widely used by Western fighter jets — enabling streamlined logistics and shared inventories between air and ground forces.
A standard NASAMS fire unit includes multiple canister launchers, an AN/MPQ-64 Sentinel 3D radar, electro-optical sensors, and a Fire Distribution Center (FDC), all linked through a distributed digital network.
Upgraded NASAMS 2 and NASAMS 3 versions added standardized tactical links like Link 16 and broadened missile options, such as the AMRAAM-ER and AIM-9X, extending engagement ranges and altitudes while improving survivability through dispersed sensors and launchers.
