US: made M109A7 howitzers to increase Taiwan’s artillery’s accuracy and mobility Expert
US: According to Focus Taiwan, an analyst said that the impending arrival of American-made M109A7 howitzers in Taiwan would provide Taiwan’s artillery with more mobility, improved accuracy, and increased firepower.
The M109A7 howitzers will be essential to modernizing Taiwan’s artillery capabilities, according to Shu Hsiao-huang, an associate research fellow at the military-funded Institute for National Defence and Security Research (INDSR), according to Focus Taiwan.
According to Focus Taiwan, which cited Shu, the M109A7 can fire within 60 seconds after being ordered to do so, which should greatly boost the howitzer’s chances of surviving combat.
When fitted with a Precision Guidance Kit (PGK), the artillery projectile of the M109A7 can strike targets at any range within 30 meters. According to him, the PGK would enable Taiwan’s military to attack targets more effectively by adding precise guidance to bombs.
According to the State Department, the administration of US President Donald Trump has announced a huge package of military sales to Taiwan at over USD 10 billion, which includes drones, howitzers, and medium-range missiles.
Eight armament packages, including drones, anti-tank missiles, and HIMARS rocket launchers, might be sold to Taiwan for an estimated $11.1 billion, according to Focus Taiwan.
The Taiwanese news outlet quoted the country’s Defense Ministry as saying that five of the eight arms packages—the M109A7 howitzers, HIMARS rocket systems, TOW 2B anti-tank missiles, anti-armor drones, and FGM-148 Javelin anti-tank missiles—are included in a special defense budget of NT$1.25 trillion (US$39.85 billion) that the Taiwan government proposed last month and is awaiting review by lawmakers.
After receiving clearance from the US State Department, the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) said on Wednesday (local time) that it had provided the necessary certifications informing Congress of the transactions.
Taiwan’s Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung thanked Washington for the planned arms sale in a statement released on Thursday, stating that it shows the US’s dedication to strengthening Taiwan’s capacity for self-defense, as stated in the National Security Strategy Washington published earlier this month.
“The State Department has made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale to the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in the United States (TECRO) of High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems and related equipment for an estimated cost of $4.05 billion,” the DSCA stated in a statement.
It said, “The proposed sale will help improve the security of the recipient and assist in maintaining political stability, military balance, and economic progress in the region.”
82 M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS); 420 M57 Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS); 756 M31A2 Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System-Unitary pods (GMLRS-U); 447 M30A2 Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System-Alternative Warhead pods (GMLRS-AW); 39 M1152A1 High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicles (HMMWV); and 45 International Field Artillery Tactical Data Systems (IFATDS).
M28A2 Low Cost Reduced Range Practice Rocket pods (LCRRPR), M249 machine guns, 5.56mm, and M2A1 machine guns are among the non-MDE components that will be included in the auction.50 CAL; M1084A2 truck, cargo, FMTV Family of Medium Tactical Vehicles (FMTV); RSV; M1089A2 truck, wrecker, FMTV, cargo, FMTV, RSV; M1095 Trailer, cargo, FMTV 5 Ton; AN/VRC-90E and AN/VRC-92E support for the Single Channel Ground and Airborne Radio System (SINCGRAS) Core Communication Management System (CCMS); frequency-hopping radios; tool kits; test equipment; support equipment; technical documentation; spare parts; training; technical assistance from the US Government and contractors; engineering and logistics support services; field office support; and logistics/program support. An estimated USD 4.05 billion will be spent in total.