The Ministry of National Defense (MND) announced on Wednesday that Taiwan will receive its purchase of the High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS) M142 launchers from the United States a year ahead of schedule.
The Army is set to receive 29 HIMARS, a precision weapon system for long-range attacks, starting in 2026, one year earlier than the original delivery date of 2027.
The MND reported that Washington agreed to prioritize sending the rocket system to Taipei to meet Taiwan’s requirements.
An updated contract awarding notice on the HIMARS project was released in a press release by the MND. Initially, Taiwan and the U.S. agreed to buy 11 HIMARS M142 launchers in 2021, with Taiwan deciding to purchase 18 more in 2022 following the cancellation of its plan to acquire 40 M109A6 “Paladin” self-propelled howitzers due to insufficient production capacity for timely delivery.
The previous week witnessed a significant escalation of tensions as Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) and other groups fired more than 100 rockets into Israel following the death of a Palestinian hunger striker in an Israeli prison.
In response, the Israeli military conducted airstrikes targeting locations believed to be affiliated with Hamas. The situation remained tense in the occupied West Bank, where Israeli forces carried out arrest raids.
Tragically, three Palestinians lost their lives in Qabatiya during an exchange of fire with Israeli forces, who claimed that the Palestinians had initiated the gunfire.
Additionally, in a separate incident in Tubas, an Israeli soldier sustained serious injuries during an exchange of fire with Palestinian gunmen. The region continues to grapple with heightened tensions and increased levels of violence.
