Airborne operations to test the defensive capabilities of a vital air force base and a simulation of Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) forces making a beach landing were the main events on the fourth day of the annual Han Kuang military exercises yesterday.
Fighter jets and C-130 Hercules transport planes dotted the sky over Cingcyuangang Air Base (清泉崗) in Taichung in the morning, with paratroopers descending from the planes in a combined combat operation with infantry forces and armored battalions to repel a simulated enemy advance on the base.
Troops delivered parachuted pallets of munitions and supplies from the C-130 planes, while the successful drop of a 2.75-tonne Humvee drew applause from observers.
Photo: CNA
The exercise was coordinated by Air Force 439 Composite Wing and Army Airborne Special Forces Command, postulating a raid by PLA airborne units to take over the base, with combat operations by troops to secure the vital airport.
Elsewhere, the simulation had a mock PLA “tank lander vessel” make an amphibious incursion onto a beach in Pingtung County’s Fangliao Township (枋寮), where “enemy” forces rolled out battle tanks, self-propelled howitzers, armored personnel carriers and trucks aiming to cut off main roads.
According to Ministry of National Defense officials, the war game in Pingtung showed that the region’s units were able to mobilize quickly in the defense of key installations while mounting countermeasures to neutralize PLA tank and armored vehicle forces before they could make significant advances inland.
Photo: CNA
Live-fire drills saw artillery bombardment on offshore target areas in the Taiwan Strait at the Kengzikou range in Hsinchu County, with President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) in attendance.
The drills incorporated 18 8-inch M110 self-propelled howitzers and 20 M109 self-propelled 155mm howitzers from the 6th Corps of the 21st Artillery Command joined by the 542nd Armored Brigade.
A total of 304 shells were fired during the drill to fend off ships attempting to make a landing, with a total of 800 soldiers and officers participating.
Ma said Taiwan would not let its guard down and remains committed to self-defense.
The week-long exercises combine the mobilization of army, navy and air force units to test joint operations in the face of threats from China.
A new radar system, developed by National Chung-shan Institute of Science and Technology, was deployed for the first time during the exercises.
The Point Defense Array Radar System (PODARS) was used during a drill by artillery troops and the army’s 542nd Armored Brigade, which involved medium-range and long-range shelling.
It was deployed near the artillery forces in tandem with Avenger anti-aircraft missile launchers, according to a ministry official.
The army has 14 PODARS, which cost a total of NT$6.165 billion (US$187.6 million), the official said.
The system was introduced to the public on July 4 to demonstrate national defense capabilities.
Additional reporting by CNA
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