First Batch of 300-Km Range U.S. Missile System Arrives in Taiwan.

Taipei: A first batch of United States-made Army missile systems with a maximum range of 300 kilometers has arrived in Taiwan. According to Focus Taiwan, these MGM-140 Army tactical missile systems (ATACMS), purchased by Taiwan from the U.S., were delivered recently, although the exact number of units in this initial batch remains undisclosed due to confidentiality. The ATACMS is a supersonic tactical ballistic missile initially developed by the now-defunct U.S. defense company Ling-Temco-Vought and is currently sold by Lockheed Martin. Its longest-range variant can travel up to 190 miles (300 km) and can be launched from both tracked M270 multiple launch rocket systems (MLRS) and wheeled M142 high mobility artillery rocket systems (HIMARS). The deployment of ATACMS is perceived as a strategic enhancement for Taiwan's military, enabling it to counter potential threats from China by targeting locations within the mainland, should an invasion occur. Su Tzu-yun, a research fellow at the Institute of National Defense and Security Research (INDSR), noted the system's effectiveness, as demonstrated by Ukraine in its conflict with Russia. This delivery is part of the broader agreement for the sale of ATACMS and HIMARS M142 launchers, approved by the U.S. in late 2020. Initially, 64 ATACMS and 11 HIMARS M142 launchers were approved for Taiwan, with subsequent orders increasing the total to 84 ATACMS and 29 HIMARS. The Ministry of National Defense confirmed that the first batch of 11 HIMARS had already arrived and was deployed to the 58th Artillery Command in Taichung, where training is underway. The unnamed source mentioned that the newly received ATACMS will also be allocated to the 58th Artillery Command. However, the Army Command Headquarters refrained from commenting on the specifics of the ATACMS delivery, merely confirming that the project remains on schedule. Su highlighted that the then Trump administration's approval of these sales in 2020 coincided with the lifting of restrictions on the missile ranges of Japan and South Korea, acknowledging the evolving missile threats from North Korea and China.