TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Taiwan's military will conduct its first live-fire exercises with newly acquired American M1A2T battle tanks next month, Defense Minister Koo Li-hsiung (顧立雄) announced on Wednesday (May 14). The June drills represent a significant milestone in Taiwan's military modernization efforts amid persistent tensions with China across the Taiwan Strait.
The defense chief confirmed that deliveries for Taiwan's substantial armor upgrade program remain on track, with a second shipment of the sophisticated American tanks expected to arrive on schedule. The M1A2T tanks, equipped with enhanced firepower and mobility, significantly outperform Taiwan's current armored units, Koo noted, highlighting the qualitative leap in combat capability the vehicles represent for the island's defensive posture.
The procurement represents a major financial commitment for Taiwan's defense modernization. According to an April report submitted by the Ministry of National Defense (MND, 國防部) to the Legislative Yuan (立法院), Taiwan's parliament, the government has allocated NT$40.52 billion (approximately US$1.33 billion) spanning from 2019 to 2027 for the tank purchase. The initial shipment of 38 tanks arrived last December with a formal handover ceremony, while a second delivery of 42 vehicles is expected by June and the final 28 tanks scheduled for arrival in early 2026.
The American-made tanks represent a generational leap in Taiwan's land warfare capabilities. Each vehicle features a formidable M256A1 120mm smoothbore gun with armor penetration capabilities of 850mm and sophisticated thermal imaging systems for enhanced target acquisition in diverse battlefield conditions. Military planners intend to distribute the tanks across multiple combat units, ending a three-decade drought in new armored vehicle acquisitions for Taiwan's ground forces.
The tank announcement comes just days after Taiwan demonstrated another critical American weapons system. On Monday, the island's military conducted its inaugural live-fire exercise with the highly mobile HIMARS (海馬士) rocket system, a platform that gained international recognition for its effectiveness in Ukraine's defense against Russian forces. The demonstration attracted substantial interest from regional security experts monitoring Taiwan's evolving defense capabilities. ◼