Ministry expects US drone deal finalized by MarchONGOING: An LOA for 40 M109A6 Paladin self-propelled howitzers is still under discussion due to disagreements on price and specifications, the defense ministry saidBy Jake Chung / Staff writer, with CNAA letter of offer and acceptance (LOA) for US-made Sky Guardian uncrewed drones is expected in March next year, while talks with Washington on a deal for Paladin self-propelled howitzers is ongoing, the Ministry of National Defense said yesterday. Minister of National Defense Chiu Kuo-cheng (邱國正) made the comments at a meeting of the Legislative Yuan’s Foreign Affairs and National Defense Committee. The ministry had not received LOAs for at least four of the arms deals, Chiang said, adding that delivery could be set back by 10 or more months. Lee Shih-Chiang (李世強), head of the Ministry of National Defense’s Department of Strategic Planning, said that the ministry had been able to estimate when it would receive the Sky Guardian LOA because the legislature had approved the drone budget for next year. The ministry received the LOA for the field information communications systems and would move forward with that deal, Lee added.

Source: Taipei Times December 22, 2021 23:28 UTC