Taiwan’s military asks for US$540 million to update Leshan radar system
- Facility kept tabs on missiles fired over the island by the PLA during war games last month, defence ministry says
- Radar array has been up and running for nearly a decade and would need upgrades, analyst says
The ministry sent the budget proposal – to be spread over five years from 2023 – to the island’s legislature for review on Friday, saying the funds were to maintain the operational performance of the air force’s Leshan radar station in Hsinchu county, northern Taiwan.
The proposed spending is in line with a planned arms package the US Pentagon has recently announced for sale to Taiwan.
The rest of the defence items in the deal – the sixth under the Biden administration – include 60 AGM-84L-1 Harpoon Block II missiles, four ATM-84L Harpoon Block II exercise missiles and 100 AIM-9X Block II Sidewinder tactical missiles.
The agency said the items were necessary to support Taiwan’s continuing efforts to modernise its armed forces and to maintain a credible defensive capability amid growing military threats from Beijing.