The military is researching acquiring 120mm caliber guns for its fleet of M60-A3 Patton tanks amid claims that the current main guns — which are 105mm — are incapable of penetrating the armor of the T-96, the mainstay tank of China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA).
According to a report by the Chinese-language Apple Daily, the military has 1,200 tanks — a mix of Pattons and the M48H tanks developed by General Dynamics and Army Armored Vehicle Development Center— all of which are armed with 105mm main guns.
The Ministry of National Defense is looking to launch a joint research project with the Army Command Headquarters and the Chung Shan Institute of Science and Technology to develop 120mm guns, which the Apple Daily claimed are capable of penetrating armor up to 700mm thick.
Photo: Chien Jung-fong, Taipei Times
The ministry is also mulling the possibility of purchasing second-hand M1A1 Abrams tanks from the US to upgrade its aging tanks.
Editor-in-chief of Asia-Pacific Defense Magazine Kevin Cheng (鄭繼文) said the ministry must ensure its aware of the pros and cons of conducting its own research.
If successful, the move would increase the capability of the nation’s tanks, as well as putting Taiwan on the road to perhaps building its own tanks, Cheng said, adding that the research nevertheless runs the risk of failing and it carries a hefty price tag.
Should the ministry purchase second-hand M1A1 Abrams tanks, it would increase the capability of the armed forces, while removing the risks associated with the ministry conducting its own research, Cheng said.
While the ministry has considered listing the M1A2 Abrams tanks as an item it would like to purchase, US military observers of the Han Kuang exercises said that the M1A2 might not perform to its full capacity due to Taiwan’s geography and the nature of its enemy.
The ministry has therefore turned to upgrading its existing Patton tanks and it might even consider manufacturing its own tanks in Taiwan, officials said.
Three Taiwanese airlines have prohibited passengers from packing Bluetooth earbuds and their charger cases in checked luggage. EVA Air and Uni Air said that Bluetooth earbuds and charger cases are categorized as portable electronic devices, which should be switched off if they are placed in checked luggage based on international aviation safety regulations. They must not be in standby or sleep mode. However, as charging would continue when earbuds are placed in the charger cases, which would contravene international aviation regulations, their cases must be carried as hand luggage, they said. Tigerair Taiwan said that earbud charger cases are equipped
Foreign travelers entering Taiwan on a short layover via Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport are receiving NT$600 gift vouchers from yesterday, the Tourism Administration said, adding that it hopes the incentive would boost tourism consumption at the airport. The program, which allows travelers holding non-Taiwan passports who enter the country during a layover of up to 24 hours to claim a voucher, aims to promote attractions at the airport, the agency said in a statement on Friday. To participate, travelers must sign up on the campaign Web site, the agency said. They can then present their passport and boarding pass for their connecting international
Temperatures in northern Taiwan are forecast to reach as high as 30°C today, as an ongoing northeasterly seasonal wind system weakens, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said. CWA forecaster Tseng Chao-cheng (曾昭誠) said yesterday that with the seasonal wind system weakening, warmer easterly winds would boost the temperature today. Daytime temperatures in northern Taiwan and Yilan County are expected to range from 28°C to 30°C today, up about 3°C from yesterday, Tseng said. According to the CWA, temperature highs in central and southern Taiwan could stay stable. However, the weather is expected to turn cooler starting tonight as the northeasterly wind system strengthens again
Taiwan sweltered through its hottest October on record, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said yesterday, the latest in a string of global temperature records. The main island endured its highest average temperature since 1950, CWA forecaster Liu Pei-teng said. Temperatures the world over have soared in recent years as human-induced climate change contributes to ever more erratic weather patterns. Taiwan’s average temperature was 27.381°C as of Thursday, Liu said. Liu said the average could slip 0.1°C by the end of yesterday, but it would still be higher than the previous record of 27.009°C in 2016. "The temperature only started lowering around Oct. 18 or 19
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