Taiwan increasing budget for coastal Harpoon missiles, delays purchase of MH-60Rs

Taiwan has decided to add another $1 billion to acquired the Boeing Harpoon Coastal Defense system. This will force the Navy to delay the purchase of 10 MH-60R naval helicopters in 2021 due to a shortfall in budget.

A Harpoon is launched from Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS John S. McCain (DDG 56) during a live-fire exercise. McCain is participating in Multi-Sail 2014, an annual exercise in the 7th Fleet area of responsibility supporting security and stability in the Indo-Asia-Pacific region. (U.S. Navy photo by Cryptologic Technician (Maintenance) Seaman Jacob Shankle/Released)


According to the news report, the number of vehicles for the system remains the same. However, the island will be buying more Harpoon missiles instead.

The move has created some resistance in the military as Taiwan has been trying to increase its anti-submarine capability, the delay in purchasing the naval helicopters will lead to a capability gap in undersea warfare in the short term.

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