State Department approves three major weapons sales to Taiwan

The State Department has cleared three weapon sales to Taiwan, including an order of more than $1 billion worth of land-attack missiles.

The State Department formally notified Congress today of its approval of a possible foreign military sale of 135 Boeing-made Standoff Land Attack Missile Expanded Response (SLAM-ER) missiles and related equipment worth an estimated $1.008 billion, according to the Defense Security Cooperation Agency.

Also approved was the possible sale of 11 High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems M142 launchers and related equipment for an estimated $436.1 million. The prime contractor on HIMARS is Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control.

Additionally, the State Department approved a possible $367.2 million sale of MS-110 Reconnaissance Pods, made by Collins Aerospace.

The Trump administration has pushed to approve more weapon sales to Taiwan, despite China's objections. In July, the Air Force finalized an $8 billion sale to replace Taiwan's aging F-16 fleet with new jets.