Taiwan is set to receive the first batch of attack helicopters ordered from the United States next month, after the US government ended its two-week shutdown, a report said yesterday.
The US$6.5 billion arms deal, including a fleet of 30 advanced Apache Longbow helicopters, was announced in 2008, causing anger in Beijing, which claims sovereignty over Taiwan and opposes arms sales to the island.
The first six Apache AH-64Es, the latest variant of one of the world's most powerful attack helicopters, were expected to be delivered to the port of Kaohsiung early in November, the Central News Agency said, citing unnamed military sources.
The Taiwanese army would become the first force outside the US to introduce the variant, the report added.
Delivery was originally set for October but has been delayed by the US government shutdown.
The US government reopened for business on Thursday after US President Barack Obama signed a bill ending the two-week shutdown and extending the Treasury's borrowing authority.