Taipei: The upcoming additions of U.S.-made M109A7 howitzers will boost Taiwan’s artillery with higher mobility, better precision, and more firepower, a local defense expert told CNA on Sunday. Shu Hsiao-huang, an associate research fellow at Taiwan’s military-funded Institute for National Defense and Security Research (INDSR), emphasized the M109A7 howitzers’ crucial role in modernizing Taiwan’s artillery capabilities, which are essential for countering People’s Liberation Army (PLA) forces landing in Taiwan.

According to Focus Taiwan, the M109A7 is capable of firing within 60 seconds after receiving an order, significantly increasing its survival rate on the battlefield. Once equipped with a Precision Guidance Kit (PGK), the M109A7’s artillery projectile will be able to hit within 30 meters of the target at any range, a substantial improvement from the previous 250 meters. This precision will enable Taiwan’s military to engage targets more efficiently.

In terms of mobility, the M109A7 has been fitted with the chassis of the M2 Bradley and a 675-horsepower engine, allowing it to travel faster than previous versions at 61 kilometers per hour. The howitzer can sustain a maximum rate of fire of four rounds per minute, providing multifaceted defensive firepower while operating alongside other rocket systems, including HIMARS.

Shu highlighted the significance of the future addition of M109A7 howitzers to Taiwan’s armed forces. On Wednesday, Washington announced the potential sale of eight arms packages to Taiwan, including 60 M109A7 self-propelled howitzer systems and related equipment worth more than US$4 billion, as well as 4,080 PGKs. The U.S. Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA), which made the announcement, stated that it has delivered the required certifications notifying Congress of the sales, following approval by the U.S. State Department.

Once the U.S. Congress approves the arms sales during a mandatory review period of around 30 days, a formal contract will be signed by Taiwan and the U.S., and the sales will commence, according to Taiwan’s military.