Taiwan Plans 9 More NASAMS Batteries as Part of New Air Defense Shield Against China.

Taiwan is weighing the purchase of nine additional U.S.-made NASAMS air defense systems, which would raise its total to twelve.

Taiwan is weighing the purchase of nine more U.S.-made NASAMS systems, which would bring the total to twelve. The plan was discussed during the Taipei Aerospace & Defense Technology Exhibition, held from September 18 to 20, where officials described it as part of a wider effort to create what they called an “air defense wall” against Chinese threats. The Ministry of National Defense has not yet confirmed the order, but the idea fits with the island’s growing emphasis on multidomain deterrence.
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The NASAMS is the first operational short- to medium-range surface-to-air system built around a networked design. (Picture source: Kongsberg)

Three NASAMS batteries are already on the books. They were ordered in October 2024 for roughly US$761.9 million, a deal later cleared by Washington in February 2025. One system should arrive before the year’s end, though delays are possible. If the additional nine are approved, Taiwan would have twelve in total, enough to overlap coverage over critical parts of the island and defend command centers, ports, and other high-value targets.

NASAMS itself is the product of Norway’s Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace and the U.S. company Raytheon. It is widely described as the first operational short- to medium-range surface-to-air system built around a networked design. Several units can be tied together over secure communications, allowing commanders to direct multiple interceptions at once. Each battery comes with a Fire Distribution Center, Raytheon’s AN/MPQ-64F1 Sentinel radar, infrared and electro-optical sensors, and multi-missile launchers. Each launcher holds six AMRAAM missiles and can be sited as far as 25 kilometers from its command post. In battalion strength, twelve launchers would mean 72 missiles on standby, all of them ready to fire within seconds.

The system has not stood still. Raytheon and Kongsberg have added the AMRAAM-ER for longer engagements and the AIM-9X-2 for close-in targets. That mix makes the system more flexible. Thirteen armed forces operate NASAMS, and fifteen countries rely on Kongsberg’s command-and-control backbone. Standard performance allows interceptions at 24 to 32 kilometers out and altitudes of up to 15,000 meters. With AESA and CEAFAR radars added, plus passive sensors, crews gain better warning and tracking of complex attacks. NASAMS can also work with other weapons like the RBS 70, HAWK missiles, or even the Patriot.

The Taipei exhibition showcased more than NASAMS. Visitors saw 51 systems on display, from American M1A2T Abrams tanks and HIMARS rocket launchers to locally developed missiles such as the Chiang-Kong. Taken together, the lineup showed a policy that mixes foreign procurement with homegrown designs in an attempt to build a resilient defense posture. A fleet of twelve NASAMS batteries would be one of the island’s largest single steps toward a layered air defense network, backing up the Patriots already in place and indigenous missile programs.

Pressure from China explains the urgency. The People’s Liberation Army continues to send aircraft and drones across Taiwan’s air defense identification zone. Naval maneuvers around the strait have also become routine. For Taipei, investing in air defense is not only about stopping incoming threats; it is also about sending a signal that it intends to resist coercion. Buying a system used by NATO states, already combat-proven and interoperable, adds both military credibility and political reassurance to its partnership with Washington.

For now, the extra nine NASAMS batteries remain unconfirmed. Still, the discussions point to a shift already underway. Taiwan’s focus is on building a dense, adaptable shield able to counter small drones on one end and complex missile barrages on the other. Twelve batteries would not flip the balance of power, but they would make any sudden escalation by China far more costly and complicated.

Written By Erwan Halna du Fretay - Defense Analyst, Army Recognition Group
Erwan Halna du Fretay is a graduate of a Master’s degree in International Relations and has experience in the study of conflicts and global arms transfers. His research interests lie in security and strategic studies, particularly the dynamics of the defense industry, the evolution of military technologies, and the strategic transformation of armed forces, with a strong focus on multilateral cooperation and geopolitics.