US to initiate deliveries of Taiwan’s M1A2 Abrams tanks, HIMARS in 2024

The M1A2 Abrams MBTs – pictured above from a US Army exercise – are protected by composite armours, armed with a 120 mm smoothbore gun, and powered by a bespoke gas-turbine engine. (US Army)

The Republic of China Army (RoCA) will receive 38 M1A2 Abrams main battle tanks (MBTs), 11 M142 High-Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS) and associated ammunition, and 81 ‘BGM‐71F tube-launched, optically tracked, wire-guided (TOW) 2B’ anti-tank guided missiles (ATGMs) from the United States in 2024, a RoCA officer told Janes on 3 March.

The RoCA will receive 42 Abrams in 2025 and 28 in 2026, the officer said. “18 additional HIMARS will be delivered to the RoCA in 2026,” the officer added.

Taiwan signed a letter of offer and acceptance (LOA) with the US in December 2019 to procure 108 Abrams. Once inducted, the Abrams MBTs are expected to replace RoCA’s ageing assets, including US-built M60A3 MBTs and locally built CM11 MBTs.