{"id":69122,"date":"2024-12-20T12:11:03","date_gmt":"2024-12-20T12:11:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/uncategorized\/2024\/12\/20\/taiwan-gets-us-abrams-tanks-hardening-final-defenses-in-an-invasion\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T01:18:17","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T01:18:17","slug":"taiwan-gets-us-abrams-tanks-hardening-final-defenses-in-an-invasion","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/global\/asia-pacific\/2024\/12\/20\/taiwan-gets-us-abrams-tanks-hardening-final-defenses-in-an-invasion\/","title":{"rendered":"Taiwan gets US Abrams tanks, hardening final defenses in an invasion"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

CHRISTCHURCH, New Zealand \u2014 Taiwan, which ratified a record defense budget of $20.2 billion in August as it contemplates rising Chinese aggression<\/a>, received a first batch of 38 M1A2T Abrams tanks on home shores this month.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After being unloaded at Taipei\u2019s port on Dec. 15, the tanks were transported to the Armor Training Command in Hsinchu County southwest of Taipei. Around ten will remain there for training purposes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The M1A2T is a customized M1A2 SEPv2 Abrams version, and these are the first new tanks Taiwan has received in nearly a quarter of a century. Taiwan previously received M60A3 TTS tanks from the U.S. between 1995 and 2001.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Following this month\u2019s first batch, 42 more Abrams tanks would be delivered next year, and the final 28 in 2026, Taiwan\u2019s Ministry of National Defense (MND) said. Taiwan had ordered them in 2019.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Chen Kuoming, a Taipei-based military analyst, told Defense News the weapons are meant \u201cmost importantly\u201d for defending the Taipei capital area. They will outfit an armored brigade in Linkou in Taipei, and another brigade in Hukou in Hsinchu.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Abrams represents a significant step up in terms of firepower and protection compared to the existing fleet of M60A3 and M48H\/CM11 models, which are armed with a 105mm main gun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Chen said those tank types were too old and outdated, although 108 new Abrams \u201care just not enough\u201d to cover replacements in central and southern Taiwan as well.<\/p>\n\n\n\t