TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — For the first time, Taiwan included its new M1A2T tanks in live-fire drills during the Han Kuang exercises on Thursday.
The drills took place at Kengzikou Range in Hsinchu County, with President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) in attendance, per CNA. Four tanks fired their 120 mm smoothbore cannons and struck all targets, which were modeled after Chinese armored vehicles, using the tank’s “hunter-killer” system.
Taiwan has purchased 108 M1A2T tanks from the US, with the first batch arriving late last year. Conversion training began in February.
Thursday’s drill involved firing 19 fin-stabilized discarding sabot training rounds at targets simulating the PLA’s Type 05 amphibious assault vehicle and Type 99 main battle tank. The exercise included firing at stationary and moving targets from a fixed position, and hitting such targets while on the move.
Major General Chou Kuang-i, commander of the 584th Armored Brigade, said the unit is in training and is expected to reach combat readiness in the second half of the year. Lieutenant Colonel Ting Pao-shun (丁寶順) confirmed that all shots hit their targets.
The hunter-killer system is a major upgrade over older tanks that required commanders and gunners to share a viewing system. It allows simultaneous target engagement and search operations, significantly boosting combat efficiency.
Chou added the new system uses an independent thermal imager for the commander to constantly detect and identify targets during combat and pass them on to the gunner. This marks a significant improvement in combat effectiveness over previous-generation tanks.
The tank's turret is equipped with an auxiliary cooling and power system. Only Taiwan’s M1A2Ts and Kuwait’s M1A2Ks feature this system.
Captain Cheng Yu-chun (鄭宇君) of the Armor Training Command said the system allows turret and fire control operation without starting the engine. This provides a tactical advantage while also reducing the tank’s thermal signature, making it harder to detect.
As M1A2T conversion training continues, Chou said the unit is expected to be fully operational in the second half of the year. Deployment will be based on threat assessments and mission requirements.
As for the threat posed by drones, Chou said Army Command Headquarters has developed corresponding tactical responses, which will be implemented in phases.
