Pentagon Says Lockheed Martin Gets $328.5 Million Taiwan Military Sale Contract

By Kanishka Singh WASHINGTON, Dec 31 (Reuters) – The Pentagon ?said ?on Wednesday that Lockheed ?Martin was given a contract involving foreign military sales ?to Taiwan to meet what Washington calls “an urgent operational need” of the Taiwan Air ?Force. The contract has a ceiling ?value of $328.5 million, with $157.3 million in foreign military sales funds obligated ?at the ?time of award, the Pentagon said in a statement. WHY IT’S IMPORTANT Washington has formal diplomatic ties with China, but maintains unofficial ties with Taiwan and is the island’s most important arms supplier. The U.S. is bound by law ?to…