Taipei, Sept. 2 (CNA) Delivery of four MQ-9B "SeaGuardian" drones and ancillary systems purchased by Taiwan from the United States is expected to be completed by the end of 2029, about a year later than anticipated, according to a public notice on the package.

The notice, published Aug. 30 on the Government e-Procurement System, showed that the four drones and ancillary systems will cost NT$16.8 billion (US$549.56 million) and that the purchase's time frame is Aug. 24, 2022, when the contract was signed, to Dec. 31, 2029.

A media report had previously indicated that Taiwan and the United States agreed on a 2028 completion date in negotiations earlier this year, but that apparently changed by the time the contract was signed.

The scheduled delivery of the first MQ-9B drone, however, remained unchanged from the 2025 date negotiated earlier this year, a source with knowledge of the matter said.

No details were provided on when the other drones will be delivered.

According to the notice, the government will take delivery of the drones in Hualien's Hsincheng Township, where the base of the Air Force 5th Tactical Composite Wing is located.

Including the costs of building ground facilities, training personnel in the U.S., and installing control systems, the total cost of the drone package will be NT$21.7 billion, a budget proposal recently submitted by the Ministry of National Defense (MND) to the Legislature showed.

While the drones will be used primarily for naval and ground reconnaissance operations, they are also capable of carrying weapons, allowing them to act as backups for combat aircraft during wartime, according to the MND.