Plans to build a Taiwanese version of the Israeli Iron Dome are in the works, as announced by President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) during his National Day address last Friday, October 10. He said the “T-Dome” will be a multi-layered defense system with high-level detection and effective interception, ensuring the security of key cities and critical facilities in Taiwan.

In response to Lai’s announcement, the United States Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) announced that it would sell three National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile Systems (NASAMS), three AN/MPQ-64 Sentinel radars, two new air defense radars, and more than 100 AIM-120 Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missiles (AMRAAM) to Taiwan.

Defense Minister Wellington Koo (顧立雄) spoke to the Legislature this Monday regarding whether or not funneling resources toward T-Dome development would contradict the military’s current focus on asymmetric warfare, given the PLA’s sizeable weapon stockpile. He explained that Lai’s intention is to integrate pre-existing detection systems to create one effective multi-layered defense system.

Koo added that the radar, missile launch, and counter-drone systems the military deploys in the future will be designed for high mobility and high survivability, which he said is indeed a development that would support asymmetric warfare.