The United Daily News quoted unnamed sources as saying "Deputy Defence Minister" Ko Cheng-heng and "Chief of the General Staff" Chen Yung-kang would travel to the United States this month to try to secure the deal.

The "defence ministry" declined to comment.

The navy could eventually buy an additional two destroyers after the initial six depending on the circumstances, the newspaper said.

The Aegis air defence radar and weapons system is capable of tracking and attacking dozens of missiles, aircraft and ships all at once.

The United States, the island's main arms supplier, in 2001 put off a request from Taipei to buy four Arleigh Burke-class destroyers equipped with the Aegis system.