Combat units of the eighth day of the annual Han Kuang exercises today continued to simulate urban combat and defense drills.
At Taipei International Airport (Songshan airport), which is a joint civil-military facility, units conduct anti-airborne drills overnight in a simulation of repelling an enemy assault.
The exercise reportedly tested how personnel respond when informed of an enemy attack under unexpected conditions, sources said.
Photo courtesy of the Military News Agency
Units at the airport were not informed of the drill prior to its start to test their response capabilities, a source said, adding that the drill was crucial to the central government’s security.
The Third Theater Command, responsible for defending northern Taiwan, simulated a heliborne assault in which troops were airdropped into the airport, the Ministry of National Defense's Military News Agency said.
Air Force, Military Police and Marine Corps personnel engaged the simulated enemy using air defense weapons and other munitions, while additional weapons systems stationed near Songshan Air Base were also deployed, it said.
Photo courtesy of the Military News Agency
A smokescreen was deployed around the landing site to limit enemy visibility, as Marine Corps personnel simulated firing shoulder-launched FIM-92 Stinger missiles at the airborne threat, the agency said.
Defense forces then deployed various armored vehicles, tactical vehicles and artillery, gradually repelling the simulated enemy with firepower, the agency said.
In February, the Marine Corps deployed personnel of the 66th Marine Brigade to the airport to bolster its defenses, with a source close to the matter saying they were there to defend against “decapitation strikes.”
As this year’s exercise has now entered its final stages, some units have begun to practice how to manage equipment failures and undertake field repairs to restore damaged vehicles to combat strength.
The 234 Mechanized Infantry Brigade also conducted a defensive drill in central Taiwan at a rest stop near National Freeway 3, where it repelled an attack by simulated enemy troops.
Civilian air raid defense drills continued today in Kaohsiung and Pingtung County from 1:30pm to 2pm.
Due to damage from Typhoon Danas last week, Tainan did not participate in the exercise to not impede disaster recovery efforts.
The Han Kuang drills are scheduled to conclude on Friday.
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