The military is to inspect training regimens and missile storage after BGM-71 TOW 2A missiles failed at target acquisition multiple times during an exercise on Monday, the Ministry of National Defense said yesterday.
During the Tien Ma (天馬, Sky Horse) exercise, 17 TOW 2A missiles were fired, but only seven hit their intended targets, prompting questions about the viability of the aging ordnance.
Major General Liu Sheen-mo (劉慎謨) said that the exercise focused on the firing procedure so that troops would be familiar with it, adding that accuracy with the system would be addressed later.
Photo: CNA
The live-fire exercise demonstrated the usefulness of training and also facilitated an inspection of weapon functions, Liu said.
Munition failure accounted for some of the missed targets, he added.
Army Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Chen Chien-yi (陳建義) said the review was not to penalize soldiers for missing targets, but to address how training, munitions and weather would affect the firing of weapon systems.
More than half of the military personnel at the exercise had not handled the weapon system before and the ministry hopes that “experienced” officers and other personnel could pass on what they learned to others, Chen said.
While the munitions were inspected before the exercise, some missiles dropped early or did not hit their target, he said.
Videos would be reviewed to help determine why there were so many misses, he added.
Separately, the ministry denied reports that there was not enough equipment for the first batch of trainees since Taiwan reinstated a one-year mandatory military training policy.
While “boot camps” would be held at military bases, their brigades are not at “full strength,” which would only be attainable when the military is mobilized, Chen said.
However, there is sufficient military equipment, such as mortars, for training, he said.
The army has four bases to accommodate the four “boot camp” brigades and all of the equipment has been provided, he said.
Rumors of an “equipment shortage” were due to some officers being too optimistic and overeager, but the ministry has communicated the scope and scale of the training to all commands, he added.
Reinstating the one-year policy and moving boot camps to army bases would affect the all-volunteer force, which is to have one exercise this year, Liu said.
The ministry would continue to revise its training schedules to ensure that the skills of its personnel do not degrade while fundamental human rights are observed, he said.
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