TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The Ministry of National Defense (MND) said Friday (May 3) that its military delegation renewed a contract with the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) for the Maritime Operations Support Center command module.

According to the MND’s bid announcement, the contract totaled NT$518.2 million (US$16 million) per CNA. It calls for continued U.S. technical assistance from April 20 to Dec. 2028, per Liberty Times.

Institute for National Defense and Security Research (INDSR) researcher Chiang Hsin-piao (江炘杓) told CNA that P-3C Orion anti-submarine aircraft are equipped with synthetic aperture radar, sonar buoys, and electronic warfare support systems, which collect information on underwater and surface targets and transmit imagery through onboard communication systems.

“The Maritime Operations Support Center provides mission briefings to P-3Cs before they execute their tasks, informing them of hydrological characteristics, enemy dispositions, and other information in the target area,” the defense expert explained.

Chiang added that during missions involving P-3Cs, the center can also convey commands from superiors to the aircraft, such as moving to specific areas for underwater target reconnaissance or conducting image scouting for surface targets. After conducting several missions with the module, P-3Cs will return with valuable information, enriching the center’s database, Chiang added.

Taiwan's military operates 12 P-3Cs under the Air Force’s 6th Composite Wing, while the Maritime Operations Support Center is under the Navy’s Anti-Submarine Aviation Group.