The military is expected to receive a second batch of 42 M1A2 tanks from the US by the second quarter of this year, the Ministry of National Defense said.
In a recent report delivered to the Legislative Yuan, the ministry said it expects the delivery of 42 M1A2 tanks in the second quarter of this year and another 28 by the first quarter of next year.
Taiwan’s request to purchase 108 M1A2 tanks and related equipment from the US was approved by the US Department of State in 2019. Taiwan received the first batch of 38 tanks in December last year.
Photo: EPA-EFE
According to the ministry, the production and delivery of the tanks are proceeding as scheduled, and liaison officers stationed in the US have been visiting the production facility every two months to monitor progress and ensure deliveries stay on track.
The training of personnel to operate and maintain the tanks has already begun, and a combat readiness evaluation is scheduled for the second half of this year, the ministry said.
Additional training exercises to integrate the tanks into operational plans will be conducted at bases where the tanks are stationed, and the vehicles are set to be ready for deployment once they have passed required evaluations, the ministry said.
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