TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The Army’s Tenth Corps conducted a heavy artillery live-fire training exercise along the north and south banks of the Dajia River estuary in Taichung.
Troops from the 58th Artillery Command, 234th Brigade, and 586th Brigade participated in the exercise, which simulated Chinese amphibious forces attempting to invade central Taiwan, CNA reported. Weapons used included Thunderbolt-2000 multiple launch rocket systems, M109A2 and M110A2 self-propelled howitzers, 155 mm howitzers, 120 mm mortars, and TOW 2A and 2B missiles.
Personnel from the National Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology assisted with pre-launch checks of the Thunderbolt-2000 systems, according to CNA. During firing, one of the Thunderbolt-2000 systems malfunctioned.
Colonel Weng Yi-ming (翁一銘), chief of staff of the 58th Artillery Command, said the rocket ignited and exited the launch tube normally, but there may have been an issue with the second-stage propellant ignition, per CNA.
The Tenth Corps said units fired 372 rounds across six weapons systems from eight positions. The drill aimed to validate joint firepower and kill chain effectiveness, it added.
