Taiwan’s self-propelled artillery receives a major upgrade! Procuring 168 M109A7 vehicles at once, phasing out 40-year-old outdated artillery, advancing towards a new era of high mobility, high precision, and full automation! Witness how Taiwan is building a new generation of digital artillery forces to counter the threat from the People’s Liberation Army!
In recent reports by the Liberty Times, Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense is planning to propose a special budget. Originally planning to purchase 40 M109A7 self-propelled howitzers from the United States, the acquisition has been expanded to 168 vehicles, completely phasing out the old self-propelled artillery. The total amount is expected to reach over 90 billion New Taiwan Dollars, more than 3 billion US dollars. The purchase of M982 Excalibur guided artillery shells by Taiwan is not included in this special budget proposal as the United States has not yet agreed, and it will be pursued separately.
Many military enthusiasts are aware that Taiwan began seeking to purchase M109 self-propelled howitzers from the United States as early as 10 years ago, starting with the A6 and now the A7 models. What has happened over the past 10 years for Taiwan to decide to procure over 160 M109A7 self-propelled artillery at once?
Firstly, let’s look at the current situation of Taiwan’s artillery. Currently, the Taiwanese military has approximately 400 self-propelled artillery units, including 225 M109 series units, A2 and A5 self-propelled howitzers.
The M109A2, which entered army service in 1982, has a range of 18 kilometers and a maximum firing rate of four rounds per minute. Currently, 197 units are in army service, having over 40 years of operational history.
The relatively newer M109A5 was ordered during the Taiwan Strait Crisis in 1996 and officially delivered to the national military in 1998. Taiwan purchased a limited quantity at that time, only 28 units.
In addition, there are approximately 70 units of the 203mm M110A2 self-propelled howitzer, which was previously used by the US Army during the Vietnam War. However, it is no longer suitable for modern warfare and should have been phased out long ago. Additionally, there are several sets of the M44 self-propelled howitzer, which was developed in the 1950s and has aged significantly.
In summary, except for the 28 relatively newer M109A5 units, the rest of Taiwan’s self-propelled artillery units are over 40 years old. Therefore, for the Taiwanese army, the imperative is to modernize and upgrade their artillery.
Taiwan wants to buy self-propelled artillery, but looking around the world, apart from the United States, there are likely no other countries willing to sell to Taiwan. While the German PzH2000 self-propelled howitzer is slightly pricier, its performance is excellent. However, within the international context of 10 years ago, Germany was unlikely to sell to Taiwan.
Therefore, starting in 2019, Taiwan officially applied to the United States to purchase M109A6. The M109A6 features an automated system, excellent protection capabilities, and range with a maximum firing range of over 30 kilometers, making it the main artillery of the US Army. In August 2021, during President Biden’s term, the US State Department officially approved the sale of 40 M109A6 self-propelled howitzers, 20 ammunition carriers, and related ammunition to Taiwan with a total value of 750 million dollars.
However, the US military has strongly recommended Taiwan to acquire the M109A7. The A7 model uses the chassis of the Bradley Infantry Fighting Vehicle and is more advanced in various aspects compared to the A6. Taiwan did not purchase the A7 initially due to logistical maintenance reasons. The chassis of Taiwan’s current M109A2, A5, and A6 models are interchangeable, facilitating maintenance and minimizing cost impacts. Taiwan only purchased 40 units at the time, aiming to leverage the new guns to enhance the older ones, achieving a synergistic effect.
Nevertheless, in 2022, the US military informed Taiwan that the delivery of the M109A6 was delayed due to various production scheduling factors. After negotiations, Taiwan decided to use the same budget to purchase the highly effective Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS) that had performed exceptionally on the battlefield in Ukraine. Taiwan acquired a total of 29 sets of the MLRS, bolstering its long-range precision striking capabilities. Additionally, Taiwan also purchased 88 ATACMS Army Tactical Missiles with a range of up to 300 kilometers, capable of reaching the coast of Fujian. Furthermore, the precision-guided rockets with a range of 75 kilometers can effectively suppress enemy beachhead positions.
However, Taiwan’s artillery still requires upgrades; the M44 and M109A2 units have been in service for over 40 years. Therefore, this year, Taiwan introduced a special budget to purchase 168 M109A7 units. The goal is to replace all the M110 and M24 artillery pieces that have been in service in the military for over sixty to seventy years. Additionally, some older M109A2 units will also be replaced. Thus, Taiwan’s future artillery force will consist of over 200 advanced M109A7 and M109A5 units, simplifying logistics and significantly boosting combat capabilities.
The M109A7 features a completely new chassis, utilizing the same chassis as the U.S. Bradley Infantry Fighting Vehicle, making it easily distinguishable. The old M109A6 chassis has seven pairs of bogey wheels, while the A7 has six pairs. Moreover, it is equipped with a new, more powerful diesel engine reaching a maximum power of 800 horsepower, substantially enhancing mobility with a maximum speed of 70 kilometers per hour and a range of up to 450 kilometers. Furthermore, it employs a higher-powered generator, improving the power output by 2.8 times to 70 kilowatts. Interestingly, the technology for this generator originated from the previously terminated U.S. “Crusader” self-propelled howitzer program, with the American technology making the generator very compact, occupying minimal interior space while maintaining substantial power output.
With the increased power output, modern information equipment, communication command systems, and observation equipment rely on electricity, enhancing the A7’s information processing capabilities significantly. The A7 has installed the latest fire control system, enhancing its accuracy.
In contrast to the older M109A6, the A7 boasts automatic loading, resulting in faster firing rates and reducing the crew members to four due to the automated loading system. In today’s downsized military context, this aids in streamlining the combat personnel of the Taiwanese army.
The M109A7 utilizes the M284 155mm main gun, capable of firing conventional shells up to a maximum range of 30 kilometers and utilizing the XM982 “Excalibur” guided artillery shells with a range exceeding 70 kilometers.
In a video demonstration from the U.S. Army in 2020, we can clearly witness these capabilities. Through GPS guidance, the Excalibur shell can precisely hit a vehicle at a considerable distance. During this exercise, the Excalibur hit a target over 65 kilometers away, illustrating its remarkable accuracy and power, showcasing the potential to launch attacks from Taipei to Hsinchu with a single shot. The effectiveness of the Excalibur guided artillery shell has been demonstrated multiple times in combat scenarios, such as in the Afghanistan war, showing an end-game accuracy of approximately 4 meters for around 92% of the XM982 Excalibur guided artillery shells, rivaling missile precision but at a more affordable cost.
Before concluding, it is noteworthy that the previous versions of the Excalibur shell were GPS-guided, suitable for fixed ground targets but unsuitable for mobile targets. However, the latest version offers a dual-mode guidance system, incorporating a semi-active laser-guided mode in addition to the pre-existing GPS guidance. Powered by laser guidance, the shell can precisely target moving objectives, achieving precision within meters, effectively hitting fast-moving tanks and armored vehicles. This advanced technology showcases how the Excalibur shell has escalated to missile-grade precision, as depicted in a 2019 test video by Raytheon and the U.S. Navy, accurately hitting moving targets from kilometers away.
The M109A7 stands as the backbone of the U.S. Army’s self-propelled artillery, with procurement commencing in 2004 and full-speed production starting in 2007. The 689 operational M109A6 units are expected to be upgraded to A7 standards and are planned to remain in service until the 2050s.
In this arms sale case, Taiwan has long desired to acquire the Excalibur guided artillery shell, yet the U.S. has not yet agreed possibly due to some technologies sourced from Sweden. Restrictions in selling military weapons to Taiwan exist due to Swedish policy hindrances regarding arms sales.
Nevertheless, Taiwan has an alternative solution, the M1156 Precision Guidance Kit (PGK) used by the U.S. Army. The PGK, accepted by the U.S. military since 2005 and ordered by countries like Australia, Canada, and the Netherlands, offers a more economical guidance system at around 20,000 USD per kit. In 2018, the Netherlands purchased 3,500 sets of the M1156 kit for 70 million USD from Northrop Grumman. The M1156, or PGK, can be affixed to any existing 155mm shell, allowing older A2 and A5 versions in Taiwan to utilize this technology as well.
Known as the PGK, or M1156 by Northrop Grumman, this system has produced over 25,000 sets by 2018. It provides a cost-effective, though slightly less accurate, precision-guided system compared to the Excalibur shell. The entire kit can be attached to any existing 155mm shell. Back in 2014, the kit demonstrated precision hits within a 5-meter radius in a test on the DM shell in Germany at a distance of 27 kilometers, hitting 90% of the targets accurately.
In conclusion, Taiwan’s military strategy with this procurement case is considered appropriate. Previously, whether buying 40 sets of M109A6 or 60 sets of M109A7, a comprehensive update and upgrade of all old artillery pieces are more efficient.
In fact, at the beginning of this year, during the Trump administration, President Tsai Ing-wen of Taiwan planned to increase defense spending to 3% of the GDP through a special budget. The plan included various projects, but so far, only the procurement case for M109A7 self-propelled howitzers is close to finalization.
The reasons are straightforward; the U.S. military and Taiwan have contrasting views on several procurement items. For instance, Taiwan’s wishes to acquire the E-2D Advanced Hawkeye surveillance aircraft and the tri-service helicopter program differed from the U.S. perspective, citing low wartime survivability and lack of support. Instead, the U.S. prefers Taiwan to bolster its air defense and anti-ship missile quantities.
The U.S. military suggests that Taiwan increase Patriot missile system acquisitions, offering to sell the latest Patriot air defense missile models. Taiwan has already procured three sets of the NASAMS air defense system from the U.S., with the first set expected for delivery this year. The U.S. believes Taiwan could purchase more systems.
In U.S. eyes, Taiwan should enhance various air defense and anti-ship missile systems, with secondary options including developing drone and unmanned boat capabilities. Therefore, they do not support utilizing limited defense budgets on procuring large aircraft or warships.
Additionally, a new national military command and control system is a focal point in the special defense budget, with the current system having been in use for over a decade. Reports suggest that the Ministry of National Defense previously stated that the U.S. would assist Taiwan in obtaining the NATO Link 22 data link system. Link 22 has been developed based on Link 16, offering horizon networking, strong anti-jamming capabilities, and most importantly, interlinking data networks with the U.S. and NATO allies for potential joint operations.
As of June this year, Ukraine recently acquired the NATO Link 16 system and, by utilizing Saab’s airborne early warning aircraft combined with F-16 fighter jets provided by Nordic countries, successfully shot down a Russian Su-35 fighter jet. This showcases that in modern warfare, operations are no longer limited to singular weapons but encompass entire combat systems.
The more advanced Link 22 data system’s introduction will greatly reinforce Taiwan’s joint operations capabilities across its armed forces, potentially elevating future joint operations and data-sharing opportunities with the U.S.
In the eventuality of a conflict in the Taiwan Strait, with the U.S. and Japan deciding to participate, the U.S. Navy’s E-2 early warning aircraft taking off from U.S. carriers in Eastern Taiwan can monitor the surrounding airspace. If hostile missiles or aircraft are detected, Taiwan’s military can immediately intercept using ground-based Patriots or air defense missile systems, facilitated by real-time data sharing via the Link 22 data link.
From a tactical system perspective, the incorporation of Link 22 into Taiwan’s defense infrastructure is arguably more critical than purchasing additional weaponry, enhancing the efficacy of the entire combat system.
Evidently, following the new U.S. administration, Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense is actively seeking to procure new weaponry. However, due to differing viewpoints, there are discrepancies in many acquisition plans between the two sides. Larger acquisition endeavors, such as surveillance aircraft and Ticonderoga-class cruisers, might face challenges, necessitating negotiations. In contrast, the procurement of M109 self-propelled howitzers and Patriot air defense systems might receive higher priority. Hopefully, Taiwan’s military can obtain the desired weapons and equipment smoothly.
Subscribe to the “Exploring Time and Minute” YouTube channel:
https://www.youtube.com/@MilitaryIntelligence999/featured
Subscribe to GJW channel:
https://www.ganjingworld.com/channel/1eiqjdnq7go7Rbr3gcLeMtv0n13p0c
Subscribe to Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/tansuoshifen/
Donation link:
https://donorbox.org/tssf