Hsinchu county: President Lai Ching-te on Friday attended the commissioning ceremony for Taiwan's first M1A2T tank battalion. Addressing the ceremony, Lai stated that the 3rd Combined Arms Battalion of the Army's 584th Armored Brigade is the first unit in the military to be equipped with M1A2T tanks.
According to Focus Taiwan, Lai emphasized the necessity for the military to adopt new training methods and mindsets alongside new equipment and technologies. This approach aims to put the spirit of asymmetric warfare into practice, enhancing combat capabilities and implementing Taiwan's overall defense strategy of "resolute defense and multilayered deterrence."
The commissioning ceremony took place at the Hukou military base in Hsinchu County and was attended by various officials, including Defense Minister Wellington Koo. Taiwan has ordered a total of 108 M1A2T tanks, valued at approximately NT$40.5 billion (US$1.31 billion). The first two batches, comprising 80 tanks, have already been delivered, with the remaining 28 scheduled to arrive in early 2026.
The 3rd Combined Arms Battalion, with its two tank companies, is the first military unit to transition from CM11 tanks to M1A2Ts. Subsequently, the 1st and 2nd Combined Arms Battalions will each replace two tank companies with M1A2Ts, and a tank company in the mechanized 269th Brigade's infantry battalions will also be upgraded to M1A2T tanks.
The M1A2T tanks are equipped with a 120 mm smoothbore main gun capable of penetrating 850 mm of homogenous steel within its effective range. They also feature a Hunter-Killer targeting system, digitalized interior controls, a remote-controlled turret, and an inter-vehicular information system (IVIS) for digital data transmission between friendly units.
Sheu Jyh-shyang, an assistant research fellow at the Institute for National Defense and Security Research, noted that the M1A2T tanks' primary role would not be coastal defense. Due to the likelihood of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) having air and naval superiority upon landing, the tanks may not withstand attacks from the air and sea. Instead, in urbanized northern Taiwan, these tanks could be utilized as armored task forces in urban warfare, coordinating closely with other military units.
Huang Chun-min, a retired military officer and author, mentioned that the battlefield tank would be deployed for urban defense and traditional beach counterattacks. He suggested expanding tank training to strengthen urban operations, mobile short-range air defense, and air-ground coordination.
Lin Ying-yu, an associate professor at Tamkang University's Graduate Institute of International Affairs and Strategic Studies, expressed optimism about the military gradually receiving M1A2T tanks. However, Lin pointed out that the Army is still in the process of exploring optimal utilization of various new systems acquired in recent years, including the HIMARS multiple rocket launcher, M1A2T tanks, and Altius-600M attack drones.