Taiwan to upgrade M60A3 main battle tanks

Taiwan has announced plans to upgrade the US-made M60A3 main battle tanks (MBTs) in service with the Republic of China Army (RoCA).

According to a contract award announced by Taiwan's tendering service, the state-owned National Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology (NCSIST) will upgrade the “shooting, gun control, and sighting system” of the RoCA's M60A3 MBTs. It said NCSIST bid TWD444 million (USD15.56 million) for the upgrade programme.

The RoCA has an estimated initial requirement for 40 upgraded M60A3s. The service may enhance its remaining M60A3 MBTs later. The RoCA operates more than 300 M60A3s.

Janes reported in 2017 that Taiwan's Ministry of National Defense (MND) planned to earmark USD6.6 million for research into the development of an upgrade programme for its fleet of M60A3 MBTs.

The RoCA confirmed in 2017 that the upgrades will focus on replacing the M60A3s' 105 mm M68 rifled gun with a 120 mm smoothbore cannon. The upgrades will also involve enhancing the hydraulic system for the turret, the ballistic fire-control computer, and other systems.

Janes could not reach NCSIST for comments.