Taiwan fires HIMARS rockets in shoot-and-scoot drill
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- Taiwan's military fired HIMARS rockets on June 10 on the west coast at Taichung, demonstrating shoot-and-scoot capability.
- The drill aimed to show mobility and survivability, with rockets withdrawing after firing to avoid enemy radar lock.
- Ko Ming-pin said the unit demonstrated solid combat capabilities and completed training.
- HIMARS has a range of about 300km, capable of striking coastal targets in China's Fujian province.
- Thunderbolt-2000 launchers were used on June 9, the day before the HIMARS test, to target Chinese forces as they leave port or attempt landings.
- China's warplanes and warships operate almost daily around the island, prompting Taiwan to modernise its asymmetric defence.
Why it matters: The drill confirms Taiwan’s ability to quickly strike and withdraw, enhancing its defensive posture and signalling to China that its coastal invasion plans would face a mobile, hard‑to‑target artillery network, while also demonstrating interoperability with US‑supplied weapons for its armed forces.
