WASHINGTON, Dec. 16, 2015 - The State Department has made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale to the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in the United States for Assault Amphibious Vehicles (AAVs) for an estimated cost of $375 million. The Defense Security Cooperation Agency delivered the required certification notifying Congress of this possible sale today.
The Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in the United States has requested a possible sale of:
Major Defense Equipment (MDE):
Thirty-Six (36) Assault Amphibious Vehicles (AAVs)
Weapons:
• Thirty (30) .50 Caliber M2 machine guns
• Six (6) 7.62mm M240 machine guns
Non-MDE included with this request includes Enhanced Armored Applique Kits (EAAK); spares; weapons; training; support and test equipment; publications; contractor engineering technical services; engineering technical services; logistical, training, engineering and program support; and other technical assistance. The estimated MDE cost is $300 million. The total estimated cost is $375 million.
This sale is consistent with United States law and policy as expressed in Public Law 96-8.
This proposed sale serves U.S. national, economic, and security interests by supporting the recipient's continuing efforts to modernize its armed forces and enhance its defensive capability.
The proposed sale will help improve the security of the recipient and assist in maintaining political stability, military balance, and economic progress in the region.
The proposed sale will improve the recipient’s capability in current and future defensive efforts. The recipient will use these vehicles to augment existing vehicles and will have no difficulty absorbing these new vehicles into its armed forces.
The proposed sale of this equipment and support will not significantly alter the basic military balance in the region.
The prime contractor supporting the refurbishment has not been selected. The purchaser normally requests industrial cooperation at forty percent, but at this time there are no known offset agreements proposed in connection with this potential sale.
Implementation of this proposed sale should not require the permanent assignment of additional U.S. Government or contractor representatives to the recipient.
There will be no adverse impact on U.S. defense readiness as a result of this proposed sale.
This notice of a potential sale is required by law and does not mean the sale has been concluded.
All questions regarding this Foreign Military Sale should be directed to the State Department's Bureau of Political Military Affairs, Office of Congressional and Public Affairs, pmcpa@state.gov.
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