Based on reports from local media, the United States delivered the first batch of new MGM-140 ATACMS ballistic missiles to Taiwan on November 10. The exact number of units provided to the Taiwanese Armed Forces has not been disclosed, but this shipment is part of the process of integrating new High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS).
This initial batch of ATACMS (Army Tactical Missile Systems) missiles will be allocated to Taiwanese Army units to enhance their response capabilities in order to deter and counter any invasion attempts by the People’s Liberation Army. Over recent weeks, various military drills have taken place in the surrounding areas, simulating a large-scale encirclement operation. Taiwanese military forces have emphasized the need for capabilities to strike ground targets within mainland China as a way to demonstrate the high cost such an operation could entail for the Asian Giant.
Manufactured by Lockheed Martin, the ATACMS missiles have a range of up to 300 kilometers and can be launched from either M270 MLRS systems or M142 HIMARS high-mobility artillery systems. This shipment is part of a larger arms deal approved by the U.S. in late 2020, which included 64 missiles and 11 HIMARS M142 launchers.
These surface-to-surface missiles, developed and produced by Lockheed Martin for the U.S. Army, can strike targets located up to 300 kilometers away and can be launched from M270 MLRS or M142 HIMARS systems. In line with this, the delivered batch is part of the sale of high-mobility artillery systems approved by the United States in late 2020, which included 64 ATACMS missiles and 11 launchers.
According to Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense (MND), the first shipment of 11 HIMARS launchers has already arrived as of November, confirming the integration of ATACMS missiles. These systems have been assigned to the 58th Artillery Command of the 10th Army Corps.
The M142 HIMARS systems represent a significant upgrade for Taiwan’s mobile artillery, offering enhanced versatility and long-range precision strike capabilities. Each HIMARS unit can deploy a variety of munitions, including GPS-guided rockets and long-range missiles, providing Taiwan’s Armed Forces with a highly mobile and effective resource. The mobility of HIMARS systems allows for rapid redeployment across different geographic areas of the island and its surroundings, a critical component in Taiwan’s defensive strategy amid escalating military threats in the region.
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