MNA

The Army’s Kinmen Defense Command conducted the second-quarter “Taiwu Exercise” today. Officers and enlisted personnel completed tasks such as entering positions and combat in the main position zone in accordance with orders. The Kinmen Garrison Battalion deployed M60A3 tanks, CM21 armored vehicles, and Javelin missiles, in coordination with the Kinmen Defense Command’s mixed artillery battalion’s 8-inch howitzers, 155mm cannons, and other organic weapons to conduct live-fire shooting. They also used the “Team Awareness Kit (TAK)” to strengthen command and control resilience, and employed “unmanned aerial vehicles” for target reconnaissance and battlefield control, thereby enhancing joint arms combat effectiveness. To validate the unit’s ability to respond to multiple threats, the Kinmen Garrison Battalion’s tank battalion, mechanized infantry battalion, and anti-armor company, in coordination with the long-range strike firepower of the mixed artillery battalion, simultaneously conducted the quarterly “Taiwu Exercise” live-fire training from different locations. Through the method of “real troops, real locations, and real ammunition,” they executed key area fire destruction and limited target attack tasks, thereby improving the officers and enlisted personnel’s ability to respond and defeat the enemy. This exercise also invited local leaders, gentry, and police representatives from Kinmen County to witness the results of the military’s rigorous training. After the command post issued the situation, 8-inch howitzers, 155mm cannons, and 120mm mortars in the positions first conducted “key area fire destruction.” This was followed by the main position zone combat phase. Officers and enlisted personnel conducted “Javelin missile” live-fire shooting for the first time in this exercise area, simulating strikes against enemy forces advancing from the sea and covering the maneuver of armored vehicles. Finally, M60A3 tanks and CM21 armored vehicles carried out limited target attacks to block and annihilate enemy forces attempting beach landings. In this Taiwu Exercise, the Kinmen Defense Command, based on composite scenarios, dispatched armored vehicles for maneuver and used Javelin missiles to precisely lock onto sea targets, combining with the intense firepower of artillery units to successfully complete the mission, demonstrating the officers and enlisted personnel’s determination to defend the homeland and not yield an inch of ground.

Altius-600M Attack Drone Conducts First Live-Fire Shooting—Minister Koo Visits the Site to Commend Personnel Minister of National Defense Wellington Koo Li-hsiung inspected the “Altius-600M Attack Drone Acceptance Live-Fire Exercise” today (December 18), commending the personnel’s dedication and efforts in training and encouraging everyone to continue implementing combat readiness preparations, demonstrating the determination to defend the homeland. In the morning, accompanied by Chief of Army Headquarters General Lu and relevant officers, Minister Koo inspected the live status of the attack drone exercise, received a mission briefing, understood the unit’s firing situation, and commended the exercise personnel for their hard work. This live-fire shooting was conducted around the Zhuoshui River, performed by the Unmanned Aircraft System Training Center and various artillery commands, verifying unit operational procedures and overall command-and-control effectiveness. The exercise first conducted performance testing with training drones to confirm the firing airspace and target area environment, then proceeded with live-fire drones to validate personnel proficiency in equipment operation and troubleshooting, as well as the effectiveness of system and command-and-control integration. After the exercise concluded, Minister Koo personally went to the site to commend the participating units, expressing appreciation for the personnel’s teamwork and demonstration of training results; he also expressed expectations that through post-exercise reviews and other measures, areas for improvement will be identified, combat readiness preparations will continue to be implemented, and the determination to defend the homeland and safeguard national security will be demonstrated.

To strengthen beach defense combat capabilities, the Marine Corps Command conducted the “Second Half of 2025 Operational Plan Live-Fire Exercise” yesterday (November 4). Based on enemy threat situations and possible enemy actions, the exercise validated command, control, and communications; fire coordination; target acquisition and transmission; integration of the ICS communication system; logistics and maintenance; and command staff procedures. It integrated six units, including the air defense and guard group, to jointly execute situation response and live-fire drills, demonstrating coordinated combat capabilities and assessing unit combat readiness training results. The exercise was divided into different operational phases: “routine crisis management,” “pre-combat deployment,” “joint counter-landing,” and “coastal and beach combat.” Live firing involved ten types of light and heavy weapons, including 105mm howitzers, 40mm grenade launchers, 20mm cannons, and T74 machine guns. Combined with surveillance drones, it completed target acquisition and live-fire procedures, enhancing personnel proficiency in live-fire operations and command-and-control effectiveness. Notably, this exercise incorporated the Team Awareness Kit (TAK), utilizing real-time imagery and frontline surveillance data return to integrate battlefield intelligence and share it across endpoints, creating a common operational picture and improving unit coordinated combat capabilities. This comprehensive combat exercise not only trained each unit’s response effectiveness when facing maritime landing threats but also strengthened commanders’ real-time adaptability, fire coordination, position transition, and joint defense sector integration capabilities, enhancing overall joint combat and rapid reaction capabilities to ensure the security of maritime domains in the face of various threats.

“Logistics capability is not only the source of military strength, but also the key to combat result.” In addition to its responsibility of maintaining and repairing various general-purpose equipment for the 1st Theater of Operations, the Penghu Type B Combined Maintenance Depot also assists in the fabrication of target ships for training and exercises by applying its technical expertise. This effort has significantly enhanced both the training effectiveness of the defense zone and the overall defense and combat readiness. During the exercise conducted in the Penghu defense zone, various weapons systems will be used for live-fire drills to designated maritime targets area. Among them, tank cannons and Javelin missiles will be used in conjunction with target ships built by personnel with related specialties from the Penghu Type B Combined Maintenance Depot. These target ships not only assist shooters in aiming during the exercise but also serve to verify firing accuracy and evaluate the overall effectiveness of the drill. Three to four weeks prior to the firing mission, the target ship fabrication group at the Penghu Type B Combined Maintenance Depot begins preparatory work. Each step in the process is essential and cannot be omitted, including task assignment, material selection, angle iron cutting, piping fabrication, frame welding, and wooden panels drilling. Once all components are completed, they are assembled into the final product. Due to the large size of the target ships, the fabrication group from the Penghu Type B Combined Maintenance Depot will transport the completed components and welding equipment to the dock ahead of the exercise to carry out on-site assembly. Once assembled, the target ships are hoisted into the water using the crane of a 3.5-ton heavy-duty truck. A contracted ship company then tows the target ships to the designated firing area, where they are anchored, completing the setup of the live-fire targets area. Sergeant Major CHEN of the Penghu Type B Combined Maintenance Depot explained that to ensure the target ship’s stability and buoyancy, angle iron must be cut according to precise specifications and welded into a solid frame. In addition, holes are drilled into the wooden panels to reduce wind resistance and enhance structural stability, which are essential for withstanding the strong winds and waves in the Penghu sea area. He also noted that, since the Javelin missile uses infrared guidance, the fabrication of the target ship must include the installation of heat sources to aid the missile and shooter in tracking, targeting, and striking. Lieutenant Colonel PAN, Director of the Penghu Type B Combined Maintenance Depot, stated that during the exercises, the depot is not only responsible for ensuring the operational readiness of participating equipment, but also for verifying the effectiveness of equipment repairs and target ship fabrication carried out by the maintenance unit. These tasks test the communication and coordination skills of the personnel, as well as validate the logistical and technical expertise developed during routine operations. The depot will continue working closely with frontline combat units in the future, dedicating its efforts to the defense of the homeland.

The 4th Theater of Operations of R.O.C. Armed Force conducted today the “Heavy Artillery Maintenance and Firing” for the first half of the year in Pingtung area. Participating units included the Army’s 43rd Artillery Command and the Huadong Defense Command. Through the firing procedures, the troops were validated the results of routine training and discipline, refined command control and fire coordination, and enhanced the use of firepower and overall combat capabilities. The heavy artillery maintenance and firing for the first half of the year was conducted this morning in Pingtung area, with a total of 44 155mm-towed howitzers. Participating units conducted three subject drills in sequence: “registration fire,” “Time-On-Target,” and “high angle fire,” which were designed to verify the artillery readiness and to train the live-fire procedures. Additionally, through the artillery body movement produced during firing, the weapon equipment and capabilities are tested. The exercises also allowed personnel to further familiarize with firing procedures, build professional expertise, and bolster the overall defensive combat power in the theater of operations. The 4th Theater of Operations stated that the R.O.C. Armed Forces will continue to carry out various combat readiness exercises and training. Through hands-on field drills, the troops can enhance their control of battlefield environments, and the personnel can improve their proficiency in operating weapon systems and firing procedures. The command-and-control mechanisms and equipment performance are validated at the same time, serving as crucial references for future training planning and force development, with the goal of building a strong and reliable elite fighting force.

The ROC Army’s 2025 “Precision Missile Firing—Eagle Strike Exercise” commenced yesterday (July 14) in the southern region. On the first day, units including the Army Aviation 601st and 602nd Brigades and the Flight Training Command participated, deploying AH-64E and AH-1W attack helicopters and OH-58D reconnaissance helicopters equipped with Hellfire missiles to engage maritime targets, verifying the routine training outcomes and battlefield adaptability of Army Aviation personnel. Yesterday’s exercise included daytime live-fire shooting and scheduled nighttime operations. In low-visibility conditions, pilots utilized night vision equipment to precisely lock onto maritime targets. After launching Hellfire missiles, the missiles’ tail flames trailed light, piercing the night sky and tracing brilliant arcs in the air, accompanied by explosive sounds as the missiles accurately struck their targets. Subsequently, pilots deployed flares and executed tactical disengagement. Through nighttime live-fire shooting, pilots gained practical combat experience while demonstrating the Army Aviation units’ all-weather combat and nighttime firing capabilities. The “Eagle Strike Exercise” is a key annual firing training for the ROC Army, designed to train pilots in independent decision-making under various scenarios, test on-the-spot reactions and target acquisition, enhance proficiency in combat procedures, strengthen formation coordination and fire control capabilities, and verify routine training outcomes to bolster overall combat capabilities.

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.

In an effort to validate and enhance the defensive combat capabilities of its forces, the Army Matsu Defense Command successfully executed the first-quarter Yun Tai exercise today. The exercise, which involved personnel from various units, showcased a series of live-fire drills at designated target areas, demonstrating both the operational readiness and proficiency of the troops. Throughout the exercise, soldiers operated CM-21 armored vehicles to access firing positions and deployed a variety of weaponry, including 20mm autocannons, 50 caliber machine guns, 81mm mortars, and T74 machine guns, engaging both aerial and maritime targets. As night fell, upon the commander’s directive, all positions initiated their firing sequences. The battlefield was illuminated by a series of powerful flashes and the resonating sounds of artillery, underscoring the coordination and precision of the exercise. This operation not only reinforced the troops’ proficiency in weapon handling but also highlighted the significant outcomes of their rigorous training programs, ensuring high-level combat readiness for future defense operations.

The 269 Mechanized Infantry Brigade conducted "Exercise No. 113-4 of Joint Operation Training Test" in the Joint Operations Training Base Command (JOTBC) tonight. The main ground forces and artillery troops fired live ammunition at the target area according to the action letter to verify the troops' capabilities of nocturnal command and management and deployment of military strength and firepower to strengthen the actual combat efficiency. This nocturnal test occurred in the JOTBC and started with artillery firing flares. With solid training, officers and soldiers completed ammunition loading at night and the aiming process by means of night vision devices. Once the commander gave the order, an attack was launched at the target area with the fire support of army aviation and artillery, leading to the successful completion of the testing task. The testing process was divided into three stages: "preemptive attack," "attack implementation," and "battlefield clearing." Officers and soldiers drove CM11 Brave Tiger, CM32 armored infantry command vehicles, and CM33 and CM34 armored infantry fighting vehicles, operated weapons such as the 105mm tank gun, 30mm chain gun, and 40mm grenade machine gun. Besides, they coordinated with the fire support of army aviation attack helicopters and artillery to conduct nocturnal firing of live ammunition, showcasing their training results.