TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The Army is dismantling CM-12 tanks for parts as it prepares to retire the aging vehicles and replace the unit with drones, reports said Saturday.

The CM-12s are upgraded versions of the US M48 tank, but they are scheduled to be decommissioned by 2026. Defense Minister Wellington Koo (顧立雄) recently said the unit would be replaced with drones, which are better suited to Taiwan’s operational environment.

The military’s policy is to phase out outdated equipment that has outlived its usefulness or become too costly to repair or upgrade, per the Liberty Times. The CM-12s have been sent to a specialized facility for dismantling, with only parts compatible with other armored vehicles being retained.

While the Army shifts focus to drone warfare, Taiwan is also acquiring 108 M1A2T tanks from the United States. The first batch of 38 arrived in December. Meanwhile, the Army is upgrading its fleet of M60A3 tanks, which were also imported from the US more than two decades ago.