Taiwan receives initial HIMARS and ATACMS

Taiwan ordered 11 M142 HIMARS from the United States in 2020. (Janes/Patrick Allen)

Taiwan has taken delivery of initial batches of M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) launchers and MGM-140 Army Tactical Missile Systems (ATACMSs) from the United States, Taiwan's state-owned Central News Agency (CNA) has reported.

CNA reported on 9 November that 11 HIMARSs had arrived in Taiwan. CNA said the next day that a first batch of ATACMS, which is designed to be launched from HIMARS, arrived on the island. Both products are manufactured by Lockheed Martin.

However, these reports are unconfirmed. Neither the Taiwan Ministry of National Defense (MND) nor Lockheed Martin had responded to Janes questions at the time of publication.

Citing sources, CNA reported that the HIMARS and its ATACMS weapons would be assigned for operations by the Republic of China Army's (RoCA's) 58th Artillery Command, which is located in Taichung City, on the east coast of Taiwan, adjacent to the Taiwan Strait.

CNA also reported that Taiwan's orders of the two systems were expanded partly due to continuing delays with its bid to procure 155 mm M109A6 Paladin self-propelled howitzers from the US.

Janes has previously reported that following its unsuccessful Paladin bid, the Taiwan government decided to order additional HIMARS and ATACMS, taking the total to 29 and 84 units respectively. These additional deals were announced by Taiwan's MND in 2023.

In October 2020 the Defence Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) approved Taiwan's request to procure 11 HIMARS launchers and 64 ATACMSs. The deal, which also included other systems, was valued at USD436.1 million.