Taipei: Taiwan’s acquisition of range-extended Patriot missile systems from the United States is proceeding as planned, the Air Force announced on Saturday. The Air Force Command Headquarters confirmed that all work is progressing according to the Letter of Offer and Acceptance (LOA) but did not provide additional details. Earlier reports from the Liberty Times indicated that the PAC-3 Missile Segment Enhancement (MSE) systems are expected to arrive before the end of the year.
According to Focus Taiwan, Taiwan signed an agreement with Washington in March 2021 to procure the MSE systems, with delivery scheduled in two batches in 2025 and 2026. These range-extended missiles are equipped with a two-pulse solid rocket motor, enabling them to achieve greater range and altitude compared to the standard PAC-3 systems.
Chou Yu-ping, a retired Air Force officer, highlighted that the upgraded PAC-3 MSE can engage ballistic missiles at farther distances and higher altitudes, thereby expanding Taiwan’s air defense capabilities. Chou noted that while Taiwan’s domestic Sky Bow missile system, showcased at the Taipei Aerospace and Defense Technology Exhibition in September, intercepts at approximately 70 km, the MSE’s interception altitude is positioned between the current Patriot PAC-3 and Sky Bow systems.
Su Tzu-yun, a division director at the Institute for National Defense and Security Research, emphasized the importance of Taiwan continuing to acquire more range-extended PAC-3 MSE missiles. He stated that these systems are essential for countering a variety of threats, including high-altitude attacks and low-flying drones.
