Taiwan gets US Abrams tanks, hardening final defenses in an invasion

CHRISTCHURCH, New Zealand — Taiwan, which ratified a report protection price range of $20.2 billion in August because it contemplates rising Chinese language aggression, obtained a primary batch of 38 M1A2T Abrams tanks on house shores this month.

After being unloaded at Taipei’s port on Dec. 15, the tanks had been transported to the Armor Coaching Command in Hsinchu County southwest of Taipei. Round ten will stay there for coaching functions.

The M1A2T is a personalized M1A2 SEPv2 Abrams model, and these are the primary new tanks Taiwan has obtained in practically 1 / 4 of a century. Taiwan beforehand obtained M60A3 TTS tanks from the U.S. between 1995 and 2001.

Following this month’s first batch, 42 extra Abrams tanks could be delivered subsequent yr, and the ultimate 28 in 2026, Taiwan’s Ministry of Nationwide Protection (MND) stated. Taiwan had ordered them in 2019.

Chen Kuoming, a Taipei-based army analyst, advised Protection Information the weapons are meant “most significantly” for defending the Taipei capital space. They may outfit an armored brigade in Linkou in Taipei, and one other brigade in Hukou in Hsinchu.

The Abrams represents a major step up by way of firepower and safety in comparison with the present fleet of M60A3 and M48H/CM11 fashions, that are armed with a 105mm primary gun.

Chen stated these tank sorts had been too outdated and outdated, though 108 new Abrams “are simply not sufficient” to cowl replacements in central and southern Taiwan as nicely.

Tanks primarily symbolize a closing line of protection in opposition to any Chinese language invasion. Taiwan’s earlier traces of protection in opposition to an amphibious assault embody anti-ship missiles, artillery and rockets in addition to assault helicopters.

“From the Russia-Ukraine conflict, we’ve seen drones and loitering munitions attacking tanks,” Chen stated. He subsequently expressed a necessity for the brand new M1A2Ts to be upgraded in opposition to such aerial assaults.

In that context, the analyst warned of diminishing returns for tank investments. As a substitute, he urged the price range must be used on different gear like small drones and loitering munitions, Javelin antitank missiles, Stinger air protection missiles or lighter armored automobiles.

“I need to encourage military officers to consider future wars, in order that they’ll change their ideas about shopping for heavier tanks,” he urged.

Taiwan can be in receipt of an preliminary 11 of 29 M142 HIMARS rocket launchers. The protection ministry revealed that the primary tranche arrived in October, with 18 extra programs due earlier than the tip of 2026. These HIMARS had been delivered to the 58th Artillery Command in Taichung, a metropolis halfway down Taiwan’s west coast.

Taiwan’s military has obtained a primary batch of an undisclosed variety of MGM-140 Military Tactical Missile Methods (ATACMS) from the U.S. too. Fired from the HIMARS launchers, the ATACMS’s vary of 186 miles (300km) places mainland China inside strike vary.