Taiwan's PAC-3 Missiles to Be Upgraded 傳美擬將愛三防空飛彈升級 含台灣在內

The US Army and Lockheed Martin have signed a contract worth US$94 million to upgrade the guidance systems of Patriot Advanced Capability-3 missiles. The work will be performed in various countries that use the missiles, including Taiwan. National Defense Minister Chiu Kuo-cheng said that Taiwan hasn't yet been notified but he believes this upgrade will strengthen defensive capabilities.

Taiwan uses Patriot Advanced Capability-3 missile systems for anti-aircraft defense. It recently asked the US to sell it more PAC-3 missiles. Meanwhile, the US Army and Lockheed Martin have signed a contract worth US$94 million to upgrade the guidance systems of these missiles. The work will be performed in various countries that use the missiles, including Taiwan. 

Chiu Kuo-cheng, National Defense Minister: “We will participate in any weapon or equipment upgrade that can strengthen our defensive capabilities. However, right now we haven't received any formal notification about how the work will proceed.”

There are concerns that PAC-3 missiles serve basically the same purpose as the indigenous Sky Bow III, yet the military has procured more from the US. The Air Force said the two have different purposes. The PAC-3 missile is primarily used against ballistic missiles. Meanwhile, legislators asked National Defense Minister Chiu Kuo-cheng about the recent visit of a US congressional delegation and their promotion of US grants and loans to Taiwan to purchase US weapons. Chiu did not deny this occurred, but emphasized that Taiwan needs to be responsible for its own defense and there is no such thing as a free lunch.

Chiu Kuo-cheng, National Defense Minister: “We will handle the proposal when it's delivered to us. We're the Republic of China. We're not the US. We will discuss this proposal as long as it benefits us and then determine the degree of acceptance. If we can't accept it, then we can't be forced to do so.”

Premier Su Tseng-chang has used government planes on numerous occasions to promote the government's stance on the year-end referendums. Legislators questioned his use of administrative resources, and the Kuomintang requested that the Ministry of National Defense make public the president, vice president, and premier's plane usage records. Chiu said he has to check whether regulations allow this.

Johnny Chiang, Legislator (KMT): “The situation across the Taiwan Strait is the tensest it has been in 40 years, yet you all are busy ferrying Premier Su around. ”

Chiu Kuo-cheng, Nat'l Defense Minister: “If it's true that you think that the Ministry of National Defense has to work very hard and is so busy, then I would ask you not to make any more trouble for us here.”

Johnny Chiang, Legislator (KMT): “You know what? If I don't call out his behavior, then you all are going to have even more work.”

The Control Yuan is inspecting the MND on the issue of extending the compulsory military service period. Chiu responded that the ministry doesn't have the authority to make a unilateral decision, and this is a policy formulation issue and the ministry will gather opinions.

 

反制中國威脅，我國部署愛國者三型飛彈系統，捍衛防空安全，也再次向美國增購愛三飛彈。外媒報導指出，美國陸軍與洛克希德馬丁公司簽訂約9400萬美元合約，將為愛三飛彈更新尋標系統，值得注意的是，這項性能提升案也包含台灣等使用國，引發關注。

國防部長邱國正表示:「任何武器裝備要升等升級，對我們防衛作戰有利的我們會參與，但目前狀況我們還沒有得到任何一個正式通知，要怎麼個做法。」

而國軍增購愛三飛彈，是否與國造的天弓三型飛彈出現功能衝突？空軍回應，兩者性能不同，愛三飛彈主要用於反制彈道飛彈。立委則關切美國參眾議員日前來台，傳出推銷軍事融資，邱國正沒否認，強調自己國家自己救、沒有免費的宴席。

邱國正表示:「一個方案一過後交給我們，我們就照辦，我們中華民國，我們不是美國，所以這個方案只要對我們有利，我們當然就討論可以接受到什麼地步，如果不能這個事情沒有經過我討論，那我們不可能硬吞。」

此外，行政院長蘇貞昌搭專機去宣講，被質疑動用行政資源，藍委要求國防部公開總統、副總統及行政院長的搭乘記錄，邱國正則表示要看規定是否允許，雙方爭論不休。

國民黨立委江啟臣質疑:「台海情勢40年來最緊張，你還要忙載著蘇院長？」

邱國正則回應:「委員既然認為國防部真的很辛苦，建議委員就不要在這邊再讓我們辛苦一次了。」

江啟臣則表示:「部長你知道嗎，如果我不把他揪出來，你們會更辛苦。」

至於監察院巡查國防部，關注提高軍事訓練役的役期，邱國正回應不是國防部單方面說得算，這是政策擬定問題，將再了解議題走向。