The total amount of weapons sold in Taiwan approved by the US State Department on the 10th is US$620 million. It is the second arms sales after the United States approved the sale of 18 heavy torpedo in Taiwan in May this year. It is also the seventh US arms sales to Taiwan since Tsai Ing-wen took office in 2016. Specifically, it is the PAC-3 missile that was previously sold to Taiwan, namely the Patriot missile " life-extended ", including replacing expired components, testing and repairing missiles, inventory reliability tests, ground support equipment maintenance, etc.
[Data picture: Patriot Missile ]
The United States Patriot missiles are also famous for frequent problems, and often "explode in situ" for no reason. In October 2018, South Korea held an air defense missile shooting competition at the Daechuan shooting range in Gyeongsang-do. A Patriot missile exploded over the sea less than 4 seconds after it was launched, shocking the entire South Korea. The South Korean military then severely accused the United States of America, saying that the Patriot air defense missile it sold to South Korea was a retired model, while US media reported that it was caused by South Korea's "improper operation"; and in March 2019, South Korea launched another Patriot missile in the Chuncheon area, which also exploded 3.5 seconds after it was launched, and the investigation result was also caused by "misoperation".
[Data photo: American Patriot missile installed in South Korea]
In fact, even if there is no "explosion in place", Patriot missiles still cannot be relieved. In 2018, in the battle of Saudi on Yemen's Houthi armed , the Saudi army launched Patriot missiles to intercept 7 ballistic missiles launched by the Houthi. One of them went around the sky and flew back directly, sending its own radar to the sky without a sound. This is not the most ruthless. According to Western media reports, the Patriots' highest record is shooting down four planes in seven days - all of them are their own people!
[Data photo: Aircraft destroyed by missiles]
Interestingly, just less than 48 hours after the United States announced that this arms sales to Taiwan will "maintenance" for the sale of Taiwan Patriot missiles, a "good man Richard" amphibious assault ship of its Pacific Fleet was in its home port, and an explosion and fire broke out at a naval base located in San Diego . As of the 16th, the fire has not yet been extinguished. It is a coincidence that the ship is also "maintenance" when it explodes. American media also reported that it was suspected of "personnel operation errors." In this way, looking for the United States to "maintenance" is another "expired missile"... Mazu blesses me, I hope Taipei 101 is safe and sound!
