The first batch of M1A2T Abrams tanks purchased from the US is expected to arrive in Taiwan in the middle of this month, a source with knowledge of the matter said yesterday.
According to the plans, military personnel sent to the US to receive training on operating the tanks all returned to Taiwan by the end of last month, and the army is set to start training with the tanks after the Lunar New Year holiday in February next year, the source said.
The army currently has about 1,000 tanks, including CM-11 Brave Tiger tanks and M60A3 Patton battle tanks, but they have been operational for more than 20 years, so aside from purchasing new engines for the M60A3 tanks, the army purchased M1A2T Abrams tanks, which some say is “the most powerful tank on Earth.”
Photo: Reuters
The army allocated a budget of NT$40.525 billion (US$1.24 billion) between 2019 and 2027 to purchase 108 M1A2T tanks, which are expected to be garrisoned in the 6th Army Command to defend northern regions of the nation.
The source said the M1A2T tanks would arrive in Taiwan in the middle of this month, but they could not disclose further details.
Seed instructors who were sent to the US to train with the tanks are expected to start training tank crews after the Lunar New Year holiday in early February next year, a member of the military said.
The M1A2T tank is equipped with a 120mm smoothbore gun that can penetrate 850mm of homogeneous steel, and its composite armor protects against 850mm armor-piercing rounds, withstanding shells fired from most enemy battle tanks.
It is also equipped with a C4ISR system, which elevates combat efficiency, and it runs on a AGT1500 gas turbine engine, which generates 1,500 horsepower and has a top speed of about 67kph.
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