Taiwan has received the first installment of the U.S.-supplied High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS), with 29 units slated to bolster its long-range defense capabilities. The delivery, confirmed by a Taiwanese military official, took place in October. Taiwan’s Army 58th Artillery Command is currently engaged in extensive training to effectively operate the advanced artillery systems.
Initially, Taiwan’s purchase included only 11 HIMARS units. However, after forgoing a planned acquisition of 40 M109A6 Paladin self-propelled howitzers, Taiwan expanded its HIMARS order by an additional 18 units. The arrival of the first batch was initially expected between late 2024 and early 2025, with the remaining units scheduled for delivery by 2026.
Beyond the HIMARS units, the U.S. arms package includes 64 Army Tactical Missile Systems (ATACMS) with a range of up to 300 km. The ATACMS provides Taiwan with a potent long-range strike capability, enhancing the nation’s ability to counter potential threats.
According to Taiwan’s 2023 national defense report, the first 11 HIMARS units will be stationed in western Taiwan, forming a multiple-launch rocket battalion. One such battalion is planned for each operational region across northern, central, southern Taiwan, and Penghu.
The 2024 defense budget also allocated funds to support HIMARS training in the United States. A contingent of 30 military personnel was sent for training from February to October 2024. Recently, 17 Taiwanese soldiers completed a three-week training program at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, to further enhance their operational readiness with the HIMARS system.
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