TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Some Taiwan Army units are already operating M60A3 Patton tanks fitted with new AVDS-1790-2CAU diesel engines.
Sergeant Wu Chen-shuo (吳宸碩), a tank commander with the 1st Company of a tank battalion under the Huadong Defense Command, said the biggest difference is easier ignition and steadier acceleration, Liberty Times reported. The upgrades address problems such as carbon deposits and cylinder blockages caused by aging while reducing maintenance burdens, Wu said.
The tanks’ smoother acceleration improves battlefield maneuverability and repositioning after firing. Wu added that the engine upgrades are intended to improve readiness rates and ensure stable operation during training and combat missions.
The military expects to complete the upgrades by 2028.
In addition to the engines, the National Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology is partnering with Leonardo DRS, a subsidiary of the defense contractor Leonardo, to outfit all Patton tanks with a digital hunter-killer system, improving the pointing accuracy and stabilization of the tanks’ 105mm main guns. The system also provides third-generation thermal imaging and night-vision capabilities.
NCSIST has begun a series of tests for a prototype M60 tank at the Army Armaments Bureau’s maintenance center in Nantou.
