Based on the latest reports, the new HIMARS MRLS artillery systems of the Taiwan Army would be deployed on the islands closest to mainland China, according to Taiwanese media, which indicated a possible forward positioning in the Penghu and Matsu archipelagos. These islands, located a short distance from Chinese territory — particularly Matsu, about 10 kilometers away — would allow the recently acquired M142 HIMARS multiple launch rocket systems to expand their operational range, following Taipei’s purchase from the United States.
According to the information released, the launchers would be armed with ATACMS tactical ballistic missiles, each equipped with a warhead of approximately 230 kilograms and a range of up to 300 kilometers. This capability would allow strikes against People’s Liberation Army (PLA) bases, critical infrastructure, and logistics nodes in coastal provinces such as Fujian and Zhejiang, expanding the operational reach of Taiwanese forces in the event of an escalation scenario in the Taiwan Strait.
The potential deployment comes after the announcement of large-scale acquisitions of HIMARS systems and associated munitions from the United States. According to previous reports, Taiwan plans to expand its inventory to a total of 111 M142 HIMARS launchers in future purchases from Washington, consolidating this platform as one of the main components of its long-range precision strike capability.
In December 2025, the U.S. government authorized the potential sale of 82 M142 HIMARS systems, along with 420 ATACMS missiles and 752 GMLRS-U guided rockets, in a deal valued at more than $4 billion and notified by the State Department to the U.S. Congress. The package also included 39 HMMWV multipurpose vehicles, 45 IFATDS field artillery tactical data systems, as well as communications equipment, trailers, machine guns, and technical support services intended to facilitate the integration of these systems into Taiwan’s Armed Forces.
At the end of January, the new M142 HIMARS of the Taiwan Army participated in their first exercises of the year at Longsiang Base, in Taichung municipality, where a scenario involving military escalation by China and a potential assault against critical infrastructure on the island was simulated. The maneuvers marked progress in the operational integration of the platform, which has become one of the main long-range fire support systems incorporated by Taipei in recent years.
From an operational standpoint, Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense has a Joint Firepower Coordination Center that enables planning and target integration alongside the United States, following cooperation frameworks observed in other recent conflicts. While Taipei and Washington present these measures as part of a deterrence strategy, PLA spokesperson Jiang Bin warned that any attempt to attack mainland territory would be met with “annihilation,” referring to potential launches from forward positions on the peripheral islands.
*Images for illustrative purposes.
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