Taiwan boosts defence with new HIMARS, NASAMS orders

Taiwan plans to purchase 28 more M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS) and nine additional National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile Systems (NASAMS), military sources revealed.

The army has also increased its order of MGM-140 Army Tactical Missile Systems (ATACMS) from 64 to 84, according to the sources, Caliber.Az reports per foreign media.

Previously, Taiwan bought 29 HIMARS launchers from the United States, receiving the first 11 last year. Once the new acquisitions are completed, Taiwan will have a total of 57 HIMARS units.

Each HIMARS launch pod carries six Guided Multiple Launch Rocket Systems capable of striking targets between 70 to 85 km away, or one ATACMS missile, which has a range of 300 km and a circular error probability of 5 to 10 metres.

On May 12, Taiwan’s 58th Artillery Command held its first live-fire HIMARS exercise at Jiupeng Base in Pingtung County. The system was also tested by the Army Command Headquarters in June.

In addition, the military intends to buy nine more NASAMS units, alongside L-band and non-L-band electronic array radars to enhance air defence across central and southern Taiwan, as well as 339 missiles of various types.

Taiwan and the US previously signed a NT$24.99 billion (US$837 million) contract for three NASAMS units. The first set is expected to be delivered by the end of this year, with deployment planned near the capital to boost air defence.

A source explained the capabilities of NASAMS, saying: “The NASAMS can fire missiles used by fighter jets if the runways have been bombed, enabling air defence even if fighters are unable to take off.”

If equipped with the extended range version of the AIM-120 Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missile, NASAMS would have a range of 50 km, complementing Taiwan’s longer-range Patriot and Tien Kung missiles, alongside the shorter-range Tien Chien II and AN/TWQ-1 Avenger Air Defense Systems.

The additional 28 HIMARS sets are estimated to cost around NT$40 billion, while the extra NASAMS and missiles of various types are expected to total NT$110 billion.

Once approved by the Executive Yuan, the military will submit a special act for military procurements to the legislature for review. “The draft special budget act for military procurements would be delivered to the legislature after the special act for military procurements is passed, and only then would the special budget amount be made known,” the sources added.

By Aghakazim Guliyev