White House notifies Congress of Taiwan arms sales packages

RESTRICTIONS: Broadcast: NO USE JAPAN, NO USE TAIWAN Digital: NO USE JAPAN, NO USE TAIWAN
The Trump administration will seek to sell Taiwan at least five and possibly seven advanced weapons systems, according to recent reports by Reuters and the New York Times.

Reuters reports the administration on Monday, Oct. 12 and Tuesday, Oct. 13 notified Congress of its intention to sell five weapons systems to Taiwan.

The multi-billion dollar deal would include the M142 HIMARS (High Mobility Artillery Rocket System), SLAM-ER long-range air-to-ground missiles, external sensor pods for Taiwan's F-16s, MQ9 drones and Harpoon Block II anti-ship missiles.

RUNDOWN SHOWS:
1. Lockheed Martin M142 HIMARS (High Mobility Artillery Rocket System)
2. Boeing Standoff Land Attack Missile-Expanded Response (SLAM-ER) long-range air-to-ground missile
3. General Atomics MQ-9B SeaGuardian drone
4. Boeing Harpoon Block II anti-ship missile
5. BAE Systems M109A6 Paladin self-propelled howitzer

VOICEOVER (in English):

"The Trump administration will seek to sell Taiwan at least five and possibly seven advanced weapons systems, according to recent reports by Reuters and the New York Times."

"Reuters reports the administration has already notified Congress of its intention to sell five weapons systems to Taiwan."

"The multi-billion dollar deal would include the M142 HIMARS (High Mobility Artillery Rocket System), SLAM-ER long-range air-to-ground missiles, external sensor pods for Taiwan's F-16s, MQ9 drones and Harpoon Block II anti-ship missiles."

"The M142 HIMARS (High Mobility Artillery Rocket System) is a Multiple Launch Rocket System on a wheeled chassis. It fires the MLRS Family of Munition rockets and artillery missiles."

"The HIMARS can hit targets up to 300 kilometers, or 190 miles, away, and would greatly expand the range of Taiwan's artillery."

"The Standoff Land Attack Missile-Expanded Response, or SLAM-ER, is an air-launched cruise missile that can attack targets on land and sea at a range of 278 kilometers, or 150 nautical miles."

"It could be fired from Taiwan's F-16s, which would also receive external sensor pods for the real-time transmission of imagery and data from the aircraft back to ground stations."

"The MQ-9B SeaGuardian drone is an unarmed maritime variant of the MQ-9 Reaper."

"The SeaGuardian can be used to help track and hunt surface ships and submarines."

"The Harpoon Block II is an over-the-horizon, anti-ship missile that would serve as a coastal defense cruise missile."

"Though not included in the reported deal, Taiwan has also been seeking to buy the M109A6 Paladin, a self-propelled 155-millimeter howitzer."

"Taiwan has also been seeking to buy the M109A6 Paladin, a self-propelled 155-millimeter howitzer."

"The Trump administration reportedly also wants to sell sea mines to Taiwan."

SOURCES: Reuters, New York Times, Defense News, Lockheed Martin, U.S. Navy, Royal Australian Navy, General Atomics

***
----------------------------------------­­---------------------------------------­-­----------------

Next Animation Studio’s News Direct service provides daily, high-quality, informative 3D news animations that fill in for missing footage and help viewers understand breaking news stories or in-depth features on science, technology, and health.

To subscribe to News Direct or for more info, please visit: