State Department Clears $300M FMS Deal With Taiwan for Altius-600M UAV

The State Department has approved the request of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in the U.S. to procure Altius 600M-V unmanned aerial vehicles and related equipment for approximately $300 million.

The possible foreign military sale to Taiwan includes 291 Altius 600M-V systems, Altius 600 inert training UAVs, Pneumatic Integrated Launch Systems, PILS transport trailers, ground control systems, associated support and other services, the Defense Security Cooperation Agency said Tuesday.

Anduril Industries wll serve as the principal contractor of the FMS.

Altius is a loitering munition that can be launched from ground, air or sea to perform standoff intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition and reconnaissance, kinetic engagement, radio frequency decoy, signal intelligence, communication relay, cyber warfare and other missions.

Altius-M, on the other hand, offers expanded loitering time and range and uses autonomy to conduct collaborative teaming and coordinated strikes.

DSCA has notified Congress of the potential transaction.