Taiwan’s military has begun deploying one of its most advanced precision-strike weapons, the HIMARS (High Mobility Artillery Rocket System), as part of its largest-ever Han Kuang military exercises, signalling its growing readiness to defend against a potential Chinese invasion.
On the fourth day of the 10-day drills, armoured trucks carrying HIMARS units were seen manoeuvring around the central city of Taichung. The deployment is part of a series of intensive exercises designed to simulate a full-scale Chinese attack and demonstrate Taiwan’s defensive capabilities.
“These drills are meant to test real combat readiness,” said Colonel Chen Lian-jia, a military spokesperson. “In a real conflict, HIMARS units must remain concealed from enemy surveillance—whether satellites, drones, or operatives—until the moment they are ordered to strike.”
Fire simulations and live-fire exercises involving Taiwan’s air and naval forces are expected next week.
The HIMARS units, manufactured by U.S. defence giant Lockheed Martin, have been used effectively by Ukraine in its war against Russia. Taiwan received the first 11 of 29 systems in 2024 and conducted initial testing in May. With a strike range of approximately 300 kilometres (190 miles), the systems are capable of hitting key coastal targets in China’s Fujian province across the Taiwan Strait.
Military analysts say HIMARS would likely be paired with Taiwan’s locally developed Thunderbolt 2000 rocket launchers to disrupt any Chinese amphibious assault at the moment of departure or landing. Thunderbolt units were spotted near HIMARS trucks during the weekend drills.
The Han Kuang exercises are intended to simulate real-world wartime scenarios—from cyberattacks on command networks to full-scale invasions. Military officials stress the unscripted nature of the drills, which aim to send a clear message to both Beijing and the international community: Taiwan is prepared and determined to defend its sovereignty.
China, which claims Taiwan as its territory, dismissed the drills as “a bluff” and reiterated its opposition to U.S.-Taiwan military cooperation. Over the past five years, Beijing has ramped up pressure on the island, conducting near-daily military patrols and large-scale war games.
President Lai Ching-te has firmly rejected China’s claims, stating that only the people of Taiwan can decide their future.
Regional defense observers say the deployment of HIMARS during combat-style drills will be closely watched by allies and adversaries alike. Australia has also acquired the systems, further underscoring their strategic value.
As tensions in the Taiwan Strait remain high, these drills are seen as both a deterrent to aggression and a reaffirmation of Taiwan’s readiness to defend its democracy.
REUTERS/s.s