Key information
- Taiwan has received its first delivery of High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS) from the United States.
- The island nation initially ordered 11 HIMARS systems in 2020 and later placed an order for 18 additional systems in 2022.
- Taiwan has acquired Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS) missiles with a range of approximately 186 miles (300 kilometers), representing a significant development as it is the first time the United States has provided Taiwan with weapons having the ability to strike mainland China.
Taiwan recently received its first delivery of High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS) from the United States. The island nation first ordered these systems in 2020.
The HIMARS is a highly mobile rocket launch platform capable of firing a variety of munitions, including the Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS). Taiwan has acquired ATACMS missiles, which have a range of approximately 186 miles. This acquisition marks an important development, as it is the first time that the United States has provided Taiwan with weapons capable of striking mainland China. The 2020 sale also included AGM-84H cruise missiles, which extend Taiwan’s offensive range to 168 miles and can be deployed from its F-16 fighter jets.
Delivery of HIMARS systems
Taiwan initially ordered 11 HIMARS systems in 2020 and later placed an order for 18 additional systems in 2022. The initial batch of 11 has now arrived, and Taiwanese troops have begun training in their operation. The United States is increasingly involved in military training in Taiwan, including deployments to the outer islands of Kinmen, located a few miles off the coast of mainland China.
Training exercises and climbing
Earlier this year, Taiwanese soldiers trained at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, on the HIMARS platform. The Central News Agency reported that at least 17 Taiwanese personnel completed their HIMARS training in August. The Fort Sill Facebook page confirmed this information by posting a photo of Taiwanese troops participating in training exercises.
Despite China’s repeated warnings that Taiwan represents an inviolable “red line” in U.S.-China relations, the United States has continued to increase its military support for Taiwan. Since 1979, when Washington severed diplomatic ties with Taipei as part of a normalization deal with China, the United States has continued to supply arms to Taiwan. Last year, the United States began providing US-funded military aid to Taiwan, signifying a significant escalation of its commitment to the island nation. In September, President Biden approved a $567 million weapons program for Taiwan under the Presidential Withdrawal Authority, allowing the direct transfer of weapons from U.S. military stockpiles.
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