As part of an official ceremony, Taiwan’s Minister of Defense, Wellington Koo Li-hsiung, confirmed the induction into service of the new M142 HIMARS high-mobility rocket artillery systems into the 58th Artillery Command of the Taiwanese Army. The delivery of these MRLS-type systems by the United States is part of a bilateral cooperation program aimed at strengthening Taiwan’s long-range strike and fire support capabilities in a regional context marked by growing military pressure from China.
The acquisition of the M142 HIMARS (High Mobility Artillery Rocket System), developed by Lockheed Martin, is part of a modernization program for Taiwan’s artillery units known as the “Honglei Project,” driven in cooperation with the United States. While the original package included 11 units, given the need to further enhance its long-range strike and fire support capabilities, Taiwan’s Ministry of Defense decided to expand the scope of the deal by adding 18 more units instead of acquiring new M109A6 Paladin self-propelled howitzers.
This expansion brought the total order to 29 high-mobility artillery systems, involving an investment of approximately USD 1.01 billion. After several delays and revisions, the first batch of 11 new HIMARS units was delivered in 2024, while the remaining 18 units are expected to arrive before 2026. It is worth noting that, according to the original schedule, delivery of the second batch was planned for 2027–2028. This change was mainly due to a strategic shift in Taiwan’s defense planning to optimize its military readiness amid rising regional tensions.
As part of the HIMARS’ operational integration process, the first live-fire tests were conducted in mid-May of this year, marking the system’s operational debut in the hands of the Taiwanese Army. The tests were carried out at the Jiupeng Test Center, a military facility located on Taiwan’s eastern coast, where Army units trained by U.S. specialists performed the first salvos with the HIMARS system. These exercises validated both technical integration and operational readiness in insular scenarios, solidifying its role within the Armed Forces’ long-range artillery doctrine.
At the same time, the induction comes amid growing pressure from China. In the last few hours, Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense (MND) reported that yesterday a Chinese rocket flew through the southwestern section of the island’s Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ). Although the rocket, which was carrying a satellite, did not pose a direct threat, the event was interpreted as yet another sign of the ongoing regional tensions surrounding the island and reinforces the need for immediate-response capabilities in the event of a potential conflict.
The M142 HIMARS represents a significant upgrade to Taiwan’s mobile artillery capabilities due to its versatility and precision long-range firepower. Each unit is capable of launching a variety of munitions, including GPS-guided rockets and long-range missiles, providing Taiwan’s Armed Forces with a mobile, highly effective, and combat-proven asset. This type of high-mobility artillery allows for rapid redeployment across different geographical points of the island and surrounding areas, which is essential to Taiwan’s defensive strategy in the face of potential threats amid escalating military tensions in the region.
Lastly, in line with that same strategy, with an estimated range of up to 300 kilometers, the HIMARS is designed to carry out precision strikes on key targets, including infrastructure or troop concentrations. In this regard, various analyses suggest that Taiwan could have the capability to reach the southeastern coastal regions of China, reinforcing its role as a key component in the island’s defense strategy.
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