Recently, the Taiwan Army’s new M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS) took part in their first exercises of the year, in which the military maneuvers simulated a scenario of Chinese military escalation against the island and a subsequent assault operation against critical infrastructure. The drills, carried out at Longsiand Base in the municipality of Taichung, marked a new step in the operational integration of this new strike and fire support platform acquired from the United States, and regarded as one of the most relevant capabilities incorporated by Taiwan’s Armed Forces in recent years.
The exercise aimed to recreate a scenario in which maneuvers conducted by the Eastern Theater Command of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) evolved into a direct offensive against Taiwan, including joint actions by Special Forces, combat aircraft, and amphibious assault units. In this context, the HIMARS artillery systems were rapidly deployed to previously designated firing positions, from where they carried out simulated strikes against targets on Wangan and Cimei islands in the Penghu Archipelago.
Fire support and deep strike capability
During the exercise, the HIMARS demonstrated their ability to provide long-range fire support and conduct deep strike missions, one of the key roles envisioned for these systems within Taiwan’s defensive doctrine. According to Taiwan Army officers, the concept of deployment, target acquisition, firing, and rapid displacement was central to the maneuver. Throughout the activity, support was also provided by UH-60M Black Hawk transport helicopters, AH-1W Super Cobra armed reconnaissance and attack helicopters, as well as Cloud Leopard wheeled armored combat vehicles and M60A3 tanks.
The process of integrating HIMARS into the Taiwan Army
The participation of HIMARS in these drills follows their official entry into service in 2025, after an acquisition process agreed with the United States as part of efforts to strengthen Taiwan’s deterrence capabilities. While the original package consisted of eleven (11) units, in view of the need to further enhance long-range fire support and strike capabilities, Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense decided to expand the deal by adding 18 additional units instead of opting for the procurement of new M109A6 Paladin self-propelled howitzers.
This expansion brought the total order to 29 high-mobility artillery systems, involving an estimated investment of approximately US$1.01 billion. After several adjustments, the first batch of 11 HIMARS 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, the second batch was initially planned for delivery between 2027 and 2028. Moreover, prior to their official induction into service, the systems underwent acceptance trials, laying the groundwork for their operational employment.
Finally, as the integration process moves forward, the Taiwanese government is reportedly in the process of ordering another batch of artillery systems from the United States. This follows a recent authorization issued by the U.S. Department of State approving the sale of a total of eighty-two (82) M142 HIMARS systems, complemented by 420 ATACMS missiles and 752 GMLRS-U guided rockets, for an overall value of approximately US$4 billion.
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