TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Taiwan's military showcased the debut of the M1A2T tank (M1A2T戰車) in live-fire exercises at the Kengzikou training ground in Hsinchu (新竹) on Thursday (July 10). President Lai Ching-te (賴清德總統) attended the event, praising the tank's capabilities. He remarked that the M1A2T's striking power and mobility make it the most powerful tank on the planet.
Lieutenant Colonel Pao-Shun Ting (丁寶順), battalion commander of the 584th Armored Brigade (584旅營長), confirmed all tank shots hit their targets, demonstrating the M1A2T's performance and accuracy.
The M1A2T, operated by a four-member crew, will deploy in northern Taiwan by year-end. The "T" in its name signifies Taiwan, and the tank, which arrived last December, successfully displayed its superior features in its first public firing. Major General Kuang-I Chou (周廣宜), commander of the 584th Armor Brigade, stated that the brigade has completed planning with the headquarters to address new battlefield threats.
The debut happened on the second day of the Han Kuang Exercise(漢光演習), Taiwan's largest annual military drill. However, these M1A2T tanks will not participate in the drill this year since no units have been established yet. The M1A2T's introduction and the involvement of HIMARS rocket systems (海馬士多管火箭飛彈連), which joined the exercise on July 4, underscore Taiwan's efforts to bolster its defense strategy.
Given the increasing tension across the Taiwan Strait, the drill sets the scenarios for if China invades Taiwan in 2027, which also refers to China's military drill in early July. This year's drill also combines the urban resilience exercise that integrates civilian evacuation with the defence plan conducted by the Ministry of National Defence (MND, 國防部). The Taiwan government is actively constructing its asymmetric warfare by procuring artillery and developing uncrewed vehicles in the air and sea to adapt to the island's strategic landscape.