Thu, Jun 18, 2026 page1

• Wave of arms purchases to arrive by year’s end

  ‘HARVEST YEAR’: The US reported a significant breakthrough in the production of Stinger air defense missiles and plans to deliver 500 of the weapons before year’s end

  • By Lo Tien-pin, Aaron Tu and Jonathan Chin / Staff reporters, with staff writer
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  Taiwan is set to see a surge in arms deliveries in the second half of this year as up to eight major weapons systems are expected to be delivered or commissioned.

  Officials call it the most significant recent “harvest year” for the military’s upgrade programs.

  US and Taiwanese manufacturers have resolved issues that caused delays in the delivery schedule of many arms sales and the indigenous defense submarine program, the latest Ministry of National Defense force structure plan said.

  

  High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems launchers fire during an exercise conducted by the army’s 10th Corps in Taichung on Wednesday last week.

  Photo: Ritchie B. Tongo, EPA

  The armed forces are expected to receive the largest hardware infusion over the past few years, it said.

  The new equipment should be a major boon for the armed forces, with drastic capability enhancement in areas such as deep strikes, counter-amphibious assault and submarine warfare, the document said.

  Some of the long-awaited weapon platforms would begin their journey to Taiwan, while others would be delivered between next month and December, the document said.

  F-16V jets, complete with trained crews and conformal fuel tanks, would be delivered in batches over the coming months, it said.

  Taiwan’s first indigenously developed submarine, the Hai Kun (Narwhal, 海鯤), should conduct its final deep-sea diving tests between next month and September before being delivered to the navy for commissioning, the document said.

  The full order of 14 M136 Volcano Vehicle-Launched Scatterable Mine Systems should be shipped from the US to Taiwan soon, not in separate groups as originally planned, it said.

  The US reported a major breakthrough in the production of Stinger air defense missiles and plans to deliver 500 of the weapons the end of the year, the document said.

  The first MQ-9B high-altitude drones and their ground control equipment would be shipped between next month and September, it said.

  The force structure plan said 18 High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems and a large number of Harpoon Coastal Defense Systems would arrive soon, following the earlier delivery of support equipment.

  MS-110 Multispectral Airborne Reconnaissance Systems, a surveillance and targeting pod slated for the air force’s F-16 jets, would be delivered through the end of the year, it said.

  The army is integrating the M136 Volcano minelaying system and M1A2T Abrams main battle tanks into its forces and doctrine, the document said.

  The ministry plans to organize the M136 Volcano minelaying systems in “mobile interdiction teams” established under combined-arms and infantry brigades of army regional commands, it said.

  The M1A2T Abrams, which the US delivered in full earlier this year, are being plugged into combined-arms brigades and conducting live-fire drills, the document said.

  In related developments, the armed forces issued a request for proposal for a multi-caliber sniper rifle to augment T112 sniper rifles already in service.

  The system should feature a quick-change barrel capable of chambering 7.62x51mm NATO, .300 Norma Magnum, and .338 Norma Magnum rounds, the request said.

  When firing the 7.62x51mm, .300 Norma Magnum and .338 Norma Magnum rounds, the weapon system should have an effective range of at least 800m, 1,200m and 1,500m respectively, it said.

  The rifle should be a bolt-action weapon with a 10 round magazine capacity when chambered for 7.62mm, the document said.

  The military’s recently acquired T-112 is chambered for .50 BMG with anti-materiel capability ranging out to 2,000m, weighing 12.5kg and with a 5-round magazine capacity.

  They are primarily issued to the Marine Corps’ Amphibious Reconnaissance Battalion, the army’s Airborne Special Service Company and the Military Police Special Service Company.
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