TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The second batch of 42 M1A2T Abrams tanks is expected to carry out live-fire training in June, Defense Minister Wellington Koo (顧立雄) said on Wednesday.

As Taiwan waits to receive the tanks by June, the military has begun Abrams training for its tank crews. Combat readiness operations will begin in the second half of the year, CNA reported. 

Toward the end of the training, evaluation drills will be conducted. Armored units will return to their designated bases and integrate the tanks into combat plans. Final assessments will be made before the tanks are formally commissioned into service.

Taiwan purchased 108 Abrams tanks from the US in 2019. The first batch of 38 tanks arrived in Taiwan in December. The final tank delivery is expected in the first quarter of next year.

Once all tanks are received, the Army's 269th Brigade will deploy one company in Linkou. Ten tanks will be assigned to the Armor Training Command in Hsinchu County’s Hukou Township, while the remainder will be sent to the 584th Brigade.