TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The Army’s 602 Air Cavalry Brigade conducted a field repair test for a Kiowa helicopter in Taichung on Wednesday.

The exercise aimed to verify the logistics and maintenance skills of ground personnel and to enhance the resilience of the military’s combat capabilities, Liberty Times reported.

Personnel first set up a field maintenance station and then simulated a helicopter communications malfunction during a reconnaissance mission. A mobile repair team was immediately dispatched to the landing site to perform repairs.

Under the protection of security forces, two team members fixed the issue and checked the Kiowa’s communication system to ensure it was fully operational. Once repairs were completed, the helicopter was redeployed.

The other key focus of the drill was to assess how personnel integrate civilian resources and materials to carry out tasks, including transporting field maintenance equipment and setting up field repair stations. 

Taiwan purchased 26 Kiowas in 1991 and an additional 13 in 1997 and received them between 1999 and 2002. Thirty-seven Kiowas remain in active service within the Army's 601st and 602nd Air Cavalry Brigades and Flight Training Command. The helicopters are armed with Stinger, Hellfire, and TOW missiles.