TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Taiwan's military on Wednesday test-fired High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS) rockets for the first time, firing 32 rockets in a drill simulating an attack on invading Chinese forces.
The Army's 10th Corps carried out the second day of drills, involving HIMARS, 155 mm howitzers, and M109A2 and M110A2 self-propelled artillery, per CNA. The military invited media to observe the HIMARS drill from a firing position on the north bank of the Dajia River estuary in Taichung.
The Army's 58th Artillery Command deployed three HIMARS launchers on the north and south banks of the river, with each launcher carrying six M28 Reduced-Range Practice Rockets. The six launchers were scheduled to fire 36 rockets in three waves in waters nine kilometers offshore.
The 10th Corps said the exercise was designed to provide cross-regional fire support and disrupt a Chinese offensive. It said the drill demonstrated rapid deployment, precision-strike capabilities, and the ability to reinforce operations across regions.
In the drill, HIMARS launchers initially remained concealed to preserve combat power before moving into firing positions upon receiving orders. Launchers on both sides of the river fired three waves of M28 rockets.
The final wave employed a time-on-target tactic, in which the launchers synchronized their firing so that all rockets arrived simultaneously in the target area.
Four rockets misfired during the drills, CNA reported. Two on the north bank and two on the south bank failed to fire, and the cause is still under investigation.
