Taiwan Army Tests HIMARS Rockets in Dajia River Drills

Taiwan's Army's 10th Army Corps recently conducted a live-fire exercise of the HIMARS multiple rocket system at the Dajia River estuary, marking the first such validation outside the Jiupeng base. The drill showcased the system's tactical prowess, deploying six launchers on both the north and south banks of the river.

A total of 32 M28 reduced-range rockets were fired during the exercise. A key demonstration was the "simultaneous impact" (TOT) firing, where multiple volleys hit the target area at the same time, creating a spectacular display. The exercise highlighted the HIMARS system's rapid response capability, with launchers able to move from a concealed position to firing readiness and launching within three minutes, followed by immediate withdrawal from the position, embodying a "shoot and scoot" tactic.

Despite the successful demonstration of speed and firepower, the exercise was not without issues. Four of the rockets failed to fire, which were preliminarily diagnosed as a computer link problem. However, the exercise continued after the fault was rectified, indicating the system's resilience and the crew's ability to adapt.