Taiwan conducts first live-fire exercise with US-made M1A2T Abrams tanks amid rising Chinese activity

On July 10, 2025, the Taiwanese Army conducted the first live-fire drill involving its newly acquired M1A2T main battle tanks at the Kengzikou training range in Hsinchu County. Four tanks from the initial batch of 38 delivered in December 2024 by the United States were deployed. The exercise was held in conjunction with the ongoing Han Kuang 41 military exercises but was not officially listed as part of the core live-fire segment. The tanks performed firing procedures from stationary positions and while on the move, engaging both moving and static targets. They fired individually, in pairs, and in a platoon formation. President Lai Ching-te was present at the event and stated that enhanced strike capabilities and mobility contributed to national security. According to the Army, the tanks achieved full firing accuracy during the training. Read full defense news at this link...

The M1A2T retains a 120mm M256 smoothbore main gun capable of firing APFSDS and HEAT rounds, including the export-specific KE-W A1 APFSDS-T, with penetration reportedly reaching up to 850mm of homogeneous steel. (Picture source: Taiwanese MoD)

Read more...

from World Defence News https://ift.tt/Zgo0LFy
via IFTTT

Comments

U.S. Army Conducts Gunnery Exercise With Latest Air Defense System Sgt Stout.

U.S. Army officials confirmed that a live gunnery exercise at Fort Hood, Texas, is underway, featuring the latest-generation Sgt Stout short-range air defense system. The drills mark a significant step toward full operational integration as units across the force adapt to evolving threats from drones, rotary-wing aircraft, and low-flying munitions. It matters because Sgt. Stout enhances the Army’s ability to defend forward-deployed troops and critical infrastructure from modern aerial threats. Read full Defense News at this link ... A U.S. Army SGT Stout SHORAD air defense vehicle maneuvers into firing position during live-fire training with the 6th Battalion, 56th Air Defense Artillery Regiment at Fort Hood, Texas, on October 3, 2025. (Picture source: U.S. Department of War) Read More from World Defence News https://ift.tt/NYmsS1n via IFTTT

US-built first Saudi MMSC frigate HMS Saud launched at Fincantieri’s shipyard

According to information published by the Saudi Ministry of Defense on December 18, 2025, the first Multi-Mission Surface Combatant frigate constructed in the United States for the Royal Saudi Navy has been officially launched at Fincantieri Marinette Marine’s shipyard in Marinette, Wisconsin. The ship, designated HMS Saud with pennant number 820 and also known as Jalalat Al-Malik Saud in honor of King Saud, is the lead vessel in a four-ship program ordered under Project Tuwaiq through the U.S. Foreign Military Sales framework, a deal that defense officials have repeatedly described as a cornerstone of bilateral naval cooperation. Read more. The HMS Saud (820) has an overall length of approximately 118 meters, in some sources detailed as 118.6 meters, with a beam of 17.6 meters, a draft of about 4.3 meters, and a full-load displacement estimated at roughly 3,600 tonnes. (Picture source: Saudi MoD) Read full Defense news. from World Defence News https://ift....

Hellfire and JAGM Missiles Confirm Their Key Role in US Strike Power with New Contract

According to an announcement from the United States Department of Defense, Lockheed Martin has received a contract modification valued at $720 million for the fourth year of production of the Hellfire and Joint Air-to-Ground Missile (JAGM) systems. This award brings the total value of the agreement to approximately $1.49 billion. Work will be carried out at the company’s facilities in Ocala, Florida, with completion expected by September 30, 2028. The program is managed by the Army Contracting Command at Redstone Arsenal, Alabama, and is funded through the fiscal year 2025 missile procurement budget. Read more. The JAGM, designated AGM-179, builds on the Hellfire’s design with an improved guidance system that incorporates a multi-mode seeker combining semi-active laser and millimeter-wave radar (Picture source: US DoD) Read full Defense news. from World Defence News https://ift.tt/dvrFwSB via IFTTT

MTQ News

Search This Blog