Taiwan, third and final 28 units M1A2T Abrams confirmed that production of the main battle tank has been completed in the United States and will be shipped to the island; Thus, the supply program for 108 vehicles ended.
However, the Taiwan Army has entered the final stage of delivery and operational integration of the new armored platform.
+ Lithuania postpones Embraer C-390 purchase and decides to modernize its C-27J Spartan fleet
The 28 tanks in the final batch were manufactured in the USA and are in the logistics preparation phase for shipment by sea. According to officials, the schedule is coordinated to ensure that there is no training gap between the second and third batches; Thus, continuity is maintained in the training of crew and maintenance teams.
Approximately NT$ 40.5 billion The worth program envisages the replacement of aging armored platforms that have been in service for more than twenty years and the strengthening of land defense units responsible for protecting the north of the island. Taiwan 108 units in total M1A2T will receive the tank.
The first batch of 38 vehicles arrived at Taipei Port in December 2024; a second batch of 42 tanks followed in July 2025. With the completion of the production of the last batch, the program has entered the final phase of deliveries.
Currently, the second batch is about to complete conversion training. In December, the unit arrived at the Kengzikou training area in Xinfeng district; Real shots and system integration training are carried out here. Activities; It included firing with the 120 mm main gun, night firing, the use of coaxial and external machine guns, and the integrated use of advanced observation and reticle sensors.
Following completion of the training cycle, the unit is expected to return to permanent base for readiness exercises and formal evaluations. Planning calls for an internal activation ceremony in the second quarter; On this date, the unit will be officially included in the combat ready list.
The Taiwan Army currently operates approximately 1,000 tanks, including the CM-11 Brave Tiger and M60A3 platforms. Although some of the M60A3s have received improvements in engine and fire control, defense officials assess that these upgrades do not meet long-term operational requirements.
The M1A2T introduces a fully integrated hunter-killer system that allows the commander and gunner to independently search, identify and engage targets. Unlike older tanks that required sequential acquisition of targets, the new platform allows for seamless target turnover and faster engagement cycles, increasing effectiveness in fast-paced combat environments.
The new tanks will be allocated to troops of Taiwan’s Sixth Corps, which is responsible for the defense of the northern part of the island, including the approaches to the capital.
Source and images: Military News Agency, ROC (Taiwan) | CNA. This content was created with the support of artificial intelligence and reviewed by the editorial team.
