Ministry of National Defense: Special budget to boost joint operations, but full-spectrum surveillance capabilities still needed
The Ministry of National Defense stated that while the special budget for arms procurement, including M109A7 self-propelled howitzers, will improve joint operational effectiveness, building full-spectrum surveillance and unmanned systems remains essential for Taiwan's defense.
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- 📰 Published: May 22, 2026 at 18:25
- 🔍 Collected: May 22, 2026 at 18:31 (5 min after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: May 31, 2026 at 21:16 (218h 44m after Collected)
Central News Agency, Taipei, May 22. The Legislative Yuan will review the special budget for arms procurement on the 25th. The Ministry of National Defense (MND) indicated that procuring five types of equipment, including M109A7 self-propelled howitzers, will moderately improve overall joint operational effectiveness. However, to form the three key elements of a 'Taiwan Shield'—comprehensive air defense, asymmetric defense capabilities, and sustained attrition capabilities—it is essential to simultaneously build full-spectrum surveillance, unmanned systems, and command-and-control decision-making capabilities. The total special budget is NT$294.99 billion, with NT$8.81 billion allocated for this year. The M109A7 howitzers are budgeted at NT$80.6 billion, and the HIMARS system at NT$159.7 billion. The MND emphasized that expanding production capacity for ammunition and defense resilience is also critical.
FAQ
What is the most expensive equipment in this budget?
The HIMARS multiple rocket launcher system, with a total cost of NT$159.7 billion.