WASHINGTON, January 29, 2010 – Today the Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) notified Congress of a possible Foreign Military Sale to the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in the United States of two (2) OSPREY Class Mine Hunting Ships, including refurbishment, upgrade and other related support and services. The estimated cost is $105 million.
The Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in the United States has requested a possible sale of two (2) OSPREY Class Mine Hunting Ships, including refurbishment and upgrade, overhaul of AN/SQQ-32 Sonar, transportation, support and test equipment, spare and repair parts, publications and technical documentation, personnel training and training equipment, U.S. Government and contractor technical, engineering, and logistics support services, and other related elements of logistics support. The estimated cost is $105 million.
This sale is consistent with United States law and policy as expressed in Public Law 96-8. The U.S. is committed to providing military assistance under the terms of the Taiwan Relations Act.
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 to meet current and future threats of enemy mining operations. The recipient will use the enhanced capability as a deterrent to regional threats and to strengthen its homeland defense. The recipient, who already has mine hunters in its inventory, will have no difficulty absorbing these additional ships.
The proposed sale of this equipment and support will not affect the basic military balance in the region.
A U.S. prime contractor will be chosen after a competitive source selection. There are no known offset agreements proposed in connection with this potential sale.
Implementation of this sale will not require the assignment of any additional U.S. Government personnel 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.
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