TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The US has accelerated arms deliveries to Taiwan, the Ministry of National Defense said in a recent report.
The MND said that between 2020 and 2027, NT$32.5 billion (US$1.03 billion) has been allocated to procure 29 High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS) launchers, 84 ATACMS (Army Tactical Missile Systems), 864 precision rockets, two training simulators, and related equipment via foreign military sales, Liberty Times reported.
The first batch of arms deliveries is scheduled for 2024–2025 and includes 11 HIMARS systems, 64 ATACMS missiles, and two training simulators. The second batch, scheduled for 2026–2027, includes 18 HIMARS systems, 20 ATACMS missiles, and 864 precision rockets. Production and delivery are proceeding according to plan.
The ministry said it has so far received 38 M1A2T Abrams tanks, 11 HIMARS launchers, five mobile Harpoon missile launchers, and 16 ATACMS missiles.
To ensure timely delivery, the ministry said that liaison officers stationed in the US audit production progress at US military factories every two months, ensuring that the second batch of equipment and munitions is delivered as scheduled between 2026–2027.
Taiwan initially ordered 11 HIMARS units, but after the army decided not to purchase 40 Paladin M109A6 howitzer systems, it purchased an additional 18 HIMARS systems.
The ATACMS is a long-range guided missile that has a 500-lb class blast fragmentation warhead, according to Lockheed Martin. It has a maximum range of 300 kilometers.
The US previously had a severe backlog of arms deliveries to Taiwan. American Institute in Taiwan Director Raymond Greene said in March that the US is working to reduce the amount of delayed shipments to Taiwan.
