US approves potential USD1.8 billion sale to Taiwan of HIMARS launchers,
AGM-84H missiles, and MS-110 reconnaissance pods
The US Department of State
has approved the potential sale to Taiwan of USD1.8 billion worth ofM142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) launchers,
AGM-84H Standoff Land Attack Missile-Expanded Response (SLAM-ER) missiles,
MS-110 multispectral airborne airborne reconnaissance pods,
along with related equipment, training, support, and services.
The US Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA)
announced approvals for the sale of each system under the US Foreign Military Sales (FMS) programme in three separate notifications
issued on 21 October amid increasing tensions between Beijing and Taipei over the status of Taiwan.
The Chinese government sees the island as a break-away province and has vowed to reunite it with the mainland.