MNA

The Fifth Theater of Operations conducted a heavy artillery live-fire exercise today around the northern and southern banks of the Dajia River estuary in Taichung. The exercise integrated forces from the 58th Artillery Command, the 234th and the 586th Combined Arms Brigade. Conducted with troops and live ammunition, the exercise demonstrated the Armed Forces’ rigorous training standards and unwavering commitment to safeguarding national security. According to the Fifth Theater of Operations, the exercise featured six types of organic weapons systems, including the Thunderbolt-2000 Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS), M109A2 self-propelled howitzers, M110A2 self-propelled howitzers, 155mm howitzers, 120mm mortars, and TOW missile carrier vehicles armed with TOW 2A and TOW 2B missiles. The drill was conducted simultaneously across a 20-kilometer-wide front and eight separate firing positions. Through realistic combat scenarios, participating units validated joint-fire effectiveness and the operational kill chain. A major highlight of the exercise was the Thunderbolt-2000 MLRS, an indigenous system developed by the National Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology (NCSIST), which conducted live-fire firing missions within the operational area for the first time in seven years. The exercise simulated enemy amphibious forces attempting to invade central Taiwan. During the initial phase, the Thunderbolt-2000 MLRS conducted area bombardment against simulated enemy forces landing on Baishatun Beach. Subsequently, M109A2 and M110A2 self-propelled howitzers, together with 155mm howitzers, delivered concentrated fires against key objectives, effectively disrupting and degrading enemy combat capabilities at Jianan Beach. TOW missile carrier vehicles and 120mm mortars then continued suppressive fire operations against advancing enemy forces, successfully accomplishing all assigned fire missions. The Fifth Theater of Operations emphasized that the exercise integrated heavy artillery and newly fielded weapons systems into a defensive operations scenario conducted directly within the designated operational area, thereby enhancing the realism and effectiveness of combat-oriented training. Through the exercise, service members further reinforced the principle that “everywhere is a battlefield and training is continuous,” while strengthening command and control capabilities and implementing the core concepts of “new training, new thinking, new equipment, and new technology.” The exercise also contributed to enhancing overall defensive combat readiness and operational effectiveness.

To validate training effectiveness, the Army conducted the 2025 Precision Missile Firing Training at Jiupeng Base in Pingtung today. In the morning, live-fire exercises of the Thunderbolt 2000 Multiple Rocket System were carried out, while in the afternoon, media were invited to observe the High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) firing, showcasing the Army artillery’s superior strike capabilities and training outcomes through media coverage. This morning, personnel from the rocket companies of the Army’s 21st, 58th, and 43rd Artillery Command, as well as units from the Kinmen Defense Command, Matsu Defense Command, and the 2nd Training Company of the Artillery Training Command, conducted the “Thunderbolt” exercise, simulating countering enemy landings by firing at sea targets to validate the training effectiveness of the troops. In the afternoon, the 58th Artillery Command conducted live-fire exercises with the HIMARS, demonstrating its high mobility and precision strike capabilities to the public through media coverage, highlighting the ROC Armed Forces’ firepower and military readiness achievements. The Army Command stated that the HIMARS is a high-mobility rocket launch platform procured from the United States, equipped with rapid deployment and precision strike capabilities. The first batch of 11 HIMARS units, acquired from the U.S., arrived last year and is currently undergoing integration training by the Army’s 58th Artillery Command. The Army Command noted that this firing exercise, aligned with the “Annual Precision Missile Firing Exercise,” verified the integration training effectiveness of the HIMARS. During the exercise, participating personnel demonstrated high professionalism and coordination, successfully completing the firing mission and accumulating valuable firing experience, achieving the goal of enhancing combat readiness.