Taiwan is reportedly preparing to procure nine additional National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile Systems (NASAMS) to further reinforce its integrated air defense network, according to local media reports.
The new systems would likely be positioned near critical radar facilities and Republic of China Air Force bases. Under an earlier acquisition, three NASAMS units are slated for deployment under the T-Dome program, a layered air defense architecture aimed at improving island-wide detection and interception coverage. The proposed expansion aligns with Taipei’s broader effort to strengthen low- and medium-altitude defenses around strategic assets.
Co-developed by Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace and Raytheon Technologies, NASAMS can simultaneously engage up to 72 targets, including drones, helicopters, and cruise missiles. Each battery incorporates AN/TPS-77 and AN/TPS-78 radars and supports multiple interceptor types, such as the AIM-9X Sidewinder, AIM-120 AMRAAM, and extended-range AMRAAM-ER.
The system’s distributed architecture allows radars and launchers to operate more than 20 kilometers from the fire direction center, enabling broad-area coverage with fewer components and improving survivability against enemy strikes.
In November, the United States Department of Defense awarded Raytheon a $698.9 million contract to supply NASAMS fire units to Taiwan, with production in Tewksbury, Massachusetts, and delivery expected by February 2031. In 2024, Washington also approved a wider $1.9 billion defense package for Taipei, covering NASAMS systems and long-range surveillance radars, including the AN/TPS-77 and AN/TPS-78 platforms.
