On May 12, the Republic of China (Taiwan) military conducted the first test-fire of the High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) provided by the United States at the Jiaho Military Base in Pingtung. This system’s range covers the coastal areas of Fujian, and in the event of a conflict between the People’s Republic of China (PRC) and Taiwan, the HIMARS could be utilized to target objectives within Chinese territory.
Despite the lack of formal diplomatic relations between the United States and Taiwan, the US remains Taiwan’s most crucial arms supplier. Taiwan is facing increasing military pressure from the PRC, including multiple military exercises. Taiwan purchased 29 sets of HIMARS from Lockheed Martin, with the first 11 sets delivered last year and the remainder expected to be delivered next year. HIMARS has been widely used by Ukraine in countering Russian aggression.
According to Taiwan’s military news agency, to verify the effectiveness of troops’ training, the Army conducted the 114th (2025) Precision Missile (referred to as missile on the mainland) shooting training at the Jiaho Military Base in Pingtung. This involved personnel from Army units such as the 21st, 58th, and 43rd Artillery Command along with various other units executing the “Thunder” exercise, simulating counter-enemy naval landings and shooting at sea targets to confirm the effectiveness of the troops’ training.
In the afternoon, the Army invited the media to observe live firing of the HIMARS by the 58th Artillery Command, showcasing its high mobility and precision strike capabilities through the media lenses to demonstrate the military’s firepower capabilities and defense preparedness achievements.
During the shooting exercise, participating personnel exhibited high professionalism and teamwork, successfully completing the shooting task. This exercise not only verified the shooting effectiveness but also accumulated valuable shooting experience to enhance the military’s readiness and preparedness goals.
Minister of National Defense of the Republic of China, Gu Li-Xiong, accompanied by relevant military officials, supervised the precision weapon shooting exercise in the afternoon, received mission briefings, assessed the shooting conditions, and provided guidance. The 58th Artillery Command and Artillery Training Division personnel drove launch vehicles into position and successfully launched HIMARS rockets, hitting sea targets accurately.
Gu Li-Xiong encouraged the troops, emphasizing that the acquisition of new modernized weapon equipment marks a significant milestone. The disciplined and standardized operational procedures followed during this exercise provided an excellent opportunity for troops to hone their combat skills. He expressed hope that upon returning to their bases, the troops would continue to implement defense training, enhance defense capabilities, and demonstrate unwavering determination to defend their homeland.
Legislator Wang Ding-Yu mentioned in a Facebook post that last year, the Ministry of National Defense received 11 sets of HIMARS in the fourth quarter, along with the purchase of 64 MGM-140 Army Tactical Missile Systems (ATACMS) with a range of 300 kilometers. This year, 16 missiles were obtained early in the year, and the rest are set for delivery in the first quarter.
Furthermore, Wang Ding-Yu noted that the Army has 18 sets of HIMARS, 20 ATACMS missiles, and 864 precision rockets scheduled for full delivery by 2026. The Ministry of National Defense conducted the “Thunder,” “Eagle Deity,” and “God Archer” annual exercises at the Jiaho Base today. In the morning, the firing effect of hundreds of “Thunder 2000” multiple rocket launchers was checked, with HIMARS making its debut, firing training rockets to display the live firing effectiveness.
According to the Central News Agency, the HIMARS system can carry either a 6-round 227mm rocket pod or a 300-kilometer-range, guided ATACMS pod. Today’s exercise involved firing 33 training rockets to validate the assembly results. During the HIMARS rocket firing, personnel were seen near the missile launch vehicles, likely executing fault resolution procedures. Lieutenant Colonel Ho Zhi-Zhong, Deputy Commander of the 58th Artillery Command, mentioned that fault resolution was a key part of today’s training, with technical personnel from the US original factory of the HIMARS also present to assist in resolving issues.
Ho Zhi-Zhong pointed out that the rocket units completed the firing according to US standards, technical directives, and firing procedures. After the shooting training is completed, the assembly troops will return to their base for defense mission exercises. Only after all relevant training is completed will the troops be officially deployed.