TAIPEI (Taiwan News) – Taiwan has signed a contract with the U.S. for a NT$11.24 billion (US$344.35 million) arms package, including Infrared Search and Track systems (IRST) for its F-16 jets, reports said Friday (July 12).

The Biden administration announced in August 2023 that it was planning to sell the tracking systems to Taiwan as part of a US$500 million arms sale. The contract for 17 items was signed by the Ministry of National Defense mission in the U.S. and the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) on June 25, per CNA.

The contract is valid from June 25 to Dec. 31, 2030, while Taitung County was mentioned as the location. The southeastern region includes the Zhihang Air Force Base, where 66 F-16V fighter jets purchased from the U.S. will be stationed. 

The IRST systems can detect stealth aircraft up to 150 km away, as their engines and the friction between the air and the planes produce heat. The infrared technology will help make up for the shortcomings of existing radar systems, according to military experts.