The army recently concluded two rounds of drills in Pingtung County testing the precision shooting capabilities of its missiles and rockets, the Military News Agency reported yesterday.
The two rounds of live-fire exercises included the annual “Mighty Eagle” exercises featuring the Aviation and Special Forces Command’s attack helicopter series: the AH-64E Apache and AH-1W SuperCobra attack helicopters, and the OH-58D Kiowa Warrior reconnaissance helicopter, the report said.
During the daytime portion of the “Mighty Eagle” drill, the helicopters fired cannons at targets in the sea and in the air, the report said.
Photo courtesy of the Military News Agency
At night the choppers fired Hellfire and Sidewinder missiles at targets in the sea, it said.
Another drill codenamed “Thunder” featured live-fire exercises involving troops from the army’s 43rd Artillery Command and 58th Artillery Command operating the locally made Thunderbolt-2000 multiple launch rocket system (MLRS).
The Thunderbolt-2000 is a wheeled MLRS produced by the Chungshan Institute of Science and Technology.
The modular, truck-mounted, multi-barrel MLRS has quick-fire potential against amphibious assault landings.
“Mighty Eagle” and “Thunder” are major annual drills that test troops’ familiarity with precision weapons systems. They were held at the Jiupeng (九鵬) military base in Pingtung County’s Manjhou Township (滿州) this year.
The agency report did not disclose when the drills were held but an army source said both took place from Tuesday last week to Wednesday.
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