Taiwan Army Tests HIMARS Rocket System on West Coast

Taiwan's Army's 10th Army Corps conducted a significant live-fire validation exercise on the west coast, showcasing its newly acquired U.S.-made HIMARS multiple rocket launcher system. This marks the first time the advanced weaponry has been tested in a combat-simulated environment on Taiwan's western shores, specifically at the sandy estuary of the Dajia River.

The exercise, part of the "115th Heavy Artillery and New Weapon System Validation Firing" drills, involved six HIMARS vehicles. The operation demonstrated the system's impressive mobility and rapid response capabilities. After receiving a firing order, the HIMARS vehicles were able to move from concealed positions to firing positions, prepare for launch, and execute the firing sequence within three minutes. Immediately after firing, they executed "shoot-and-scoot" maneuvers to evade potential counter-battery fire, significantly enhancing their survivability on the battlefield.

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The Army emphasized that this is the first time Taiwan has completed live-fire shooting verification outside the Jiupeng base after receiving the HIMARS.

The drill aimed to simulate the HIMARS's ability to provide cross-regional fire support against high-value targets in northern Taiwan, thereby disrupting enemy advances. The exercise highlighted the system's advantages in rapid deployment, precision strikes, and cross-regional reinforcement, bolstering the ground forces' firepower and serving as a deterrent against potential aggression.

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After receiving the firing mission, the HIMARS launch vehicle immediately moved to the firing position, completing the 'mobility - firing preparation - launch' firing process within 3 minutes and immediately withdrawing after firing, fully demonstrating its excellent mobility.

During the exercise, 32 M28 reduced-range rockets were fired. However, four rounds experienced malfunctions, with two occurring on the north bank and two on the south bank. Preliminary assessments suggest the issues were related to computer link problems. The soldiers were able to perform on-site troubleshooting, aligning with the exercise's emphasis on realistic combat scenarios. The detailed findings are under investigation and will be shared with the U.S. side for collaborative research, as similar system issues have been encountered previously.

The 10th Army Corps also integrated other heavy artillery, including 155mm howitzers and M109A2 and M110A2 self-propelled howitzers, to validate joint fire support capabilities. The successful execution of these drills underscores the Taiwanese military's progress in developing modern, precision-strike capabilities. The Army expressed gratitude to the Taichung City Government and local authorities for their support in providing the firing locations, fostering a strong civil-military cooperation that enhances Taiwan's overall defense resilience.

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Preliminary judgment is that it is a computer link problem. HIMARS system directly displays malfunctions on the computer, so soldiers performed troubleshooting on the spot, which also conforms to the actual combat situation.