Taiwan to receive 29 HIMARS systems in multi-year delivery from US

Taiwan is set to receive 29 sets of M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS) from the United States in staggered deliveries from late 2023 through 2026.

The figures are outlined in the country's military procurement plan, Caliber.Az reports, citing Taiwan's media.

The HIMARS systems have gained international demand following their successful deployment by Ukraine in targeting long-range positions with precision in its ongoing conflict with Russia. Initially, the US had agreed to sell 11 HIMARS units to Taiwan after it became clear that M109A6 howitzer artillery weapons would not be available. Subsequently, Taiwan expanded its purchase, adding 18 more HIMARS units to its arsenal.

The second procurement, valued at approximately NT$32.5 billion (around $1 billion), includes 84 MGM-140 Army Tactical Missiles and 864 rockets. The first batch of 11 HIMARS units is scheduled for delivery between the end of this year and 2024, with the remaining sets to arrive by 2026.

The US Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) announced last week that the US Department of State had approved the sale of 16 HIMARS units to Norway. This $580 million arms package also includes 15 M30A2 multiple rocket pods, 15 M31A2 multiple rocket pods, and 100 MGM-140 pods, along with logistics, training, and technical support.

Both M30A2 and M31A2 rockets, guided by GPS, offer enhanced accuracy over traditional rockets, with a maximum range of approximately 92 km. The M30A2 is equipped with submunitions, while the M31A2 features a single high-explosive warhead. The MGM-140 missiles purchased by Norway boast a range of up to 300 km and a high degree of accuracy, with a circular error probability of just 9 meters.