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Taiwan Military Conducts 'Sky Horse' Exercise, Achieving 100% Hit Rate with TOW Missiles

From Liberty Times · () Chinese

Translated from Chinese and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

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  • Taiwan's military conducted live-fire exercises, including the 'Sky Horse' drill with TOW 2B anti-armor missiles, achieving a 100% hit rate.
  • The TOW 2B missiles feature advanced radio frequency guidance and a top-attack capability, extending their range to 4,500 meters.
  • The exercises aimed to validate troops' training, enhance anti-armor combat effectiveness, and strengthen overall defense capabilities.

Taiwan's armed forces have demonstrated their combat readiness through recent live-fire exercises, with the Fourth and Fifth Operational Zones conducting significant drills. The "Sky Horse" exercise, carried out by the 564th Combined Arms Brigade of the Army, focused on the live-fire deployment of the TOW 2B anti-armor missile system. This exercise, along with the annual "Heavy Artillery Firing" mission in the Fifth Operational Zone, which included TOW 2A missiles, showcased the precision and effectiveness of Taiwan's weaponry.

During the "Sky Horse" exercise, all participating units achieved a perfect 100% hit rate with the TOW missiles. Soldiers operating the M41A7 system successfully targeted and struck designated areas, validating their rigorous training and proficiency. Sergeant Yang, a missile shooter, expressed pride in the accomplishment, emphasizing that the flawless performance not only proves the effectiveness of daily drills but also bolsters the unit's anti-armor combat capabilities, laying a solid foundation for future readiness missions.

The live-fire shooting not only validates the troops' daily training and diligence but also strengthens the unit's anti-armor combat capability, laying a solid foundation for carrying out subsequent combat readiness missions.

โ€” Sergeant YangA missile shooter reflecting on the successful TOW 2B missile exercise.

The TOW 2B missile system, procured from the United States, boasts significant upgrades over its predecessors. It utilizes advanced radio frequency guidance instead of traditional copper wire, extending its effective range to 4,500 meters. A key feature is its "top attack" capability, designed to detonate above an enemy armored vehicle and penetrate its most vulnerable top armor. This makes it highly effective against amphibious assault vehicles and landing craft, significantly enhancing Taiwan's asymmetric warfare capabilities, particularly in coastal defense scenarios.

In addition to the missile firings, the Fifth Operational Zone's "Heavy Artillery Firing" mission involved 155mm howitzers and TOW missile vehicles. These exercises tested the serviceability of the equipment and the combat effectiveness of the troops, reinforcing their commitment to defending Taiwan. Despite challenging conditions, such as muddy training grounds and hot weather, the soldiers maintained professional standards, executing drills under standardized operating procedures to prepare for potential battlefield contingencies.

The TOW 2B missile has a top attack capability, which, after flying over the target, activates high explosives through internal sensors to destroy armored vehicles, effectively performing anti-armor combat.

โ€” Sergeant YangSergeant Yang explaining the specific functionality of the TOW 2B missile during the exercise.
About this summary

Originally published by Liberty Times in Chinese. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.