Taiwan has reached a major milestone in modernizing its ground forces. On October 31, 2025, at the Hukou Military Base in Hsinchu County, the Republic of China Army officially commissioned its 3rd Combined Arms Battalion of the 584th Armored Brigade with U.S.-made M1A2T Abrams main battle tanks.
The ceremony was attended by President Lai Ching-te, Defense Minister Wellington Koo, National Security Council Secretary-General Joseph Wu, and Army Commander General Lü Kun-hsiu, along with other senior military and civilian officials. President Lai described the commissioning as a key milestone in Taiwan’s transition to “new training, new thinking, new equipment, and new technology.”
Taiwan purchased 108 M1A2T Abrams tanks and 14 M88A2 armored recovery vehicles from the U.S. in 2019. Deliveries began in 2024, with 38 tanks arriving that year, followed by 42 in 2025, and the remaining 28 expected by early 2026. The commissioning of the 3rd Battalion marks the operational debut of Taiwan’s first M1A2T unit.
President Lai highlighted that troops had completed training in the U.S., received new equipment, and passed live-fire evaluations, demonstrating high operational readiness. He emphasized that the tanks would strengthen Taiwan’s deterrence under the doctrine of “resolute defense and multilayered deterrence” and called on soldiers to uphold the asymmetric warfare spirit.
The M1A2T is a Taiwan-specific variant of the M1A2 Abrams, featuring advanced thermal targeting systems, digital battlefield network integration, enhanced armor protection, and new-generation command-and-control systems. Its primary armament is the 120 mm M256 smoothbore gun, supported by 12.7 mm and 7.62 mm machine guns. The tank weighs approximately 63 tons and is powered by a Honeywell AGT-1500 gas turbine engine.
Previously, Taiwan relied on M60A3 Patton tanks and locally upgraded CM-11 Brave Tiger vehicles. These older platforms lacked the firepower, protection, and digital systems required for modern combat, making the M1A2T fleet a generational leap forward for Taiwan’s armored forces.
President Lai stressed that “only true strength can bring peace” and that investing in defense is investing in peace. He reaffirmed Taiwan’s commitment to maintaining sovereignty, democratic governance, and regional stability.
The M1A2T tanks cannot perform amphibious landings due to their weight and design. They will be deployed inland as a mobile counter-landing reserve rather than positioned directly on beaches. To facilitate strategic mobility, the procurement package includes M1000 Heavy Equipment Transporter semi-trailers, accounting for Taiwan’s infrastructure limitations.
At the conclusion of the ceremony, President Lai addressed the troops with the motto: “Step by step, we protect national sovereignty,” highlighting the symbolic importance of the M1A2T in Taiwan’s defense modernization and deterrence posture.
