DEFENSE/Taiwan Army concludes two rounds of drills testing precision weapons
Taipei, April 18 (CNA) Taiwan's Army has recently concluded two rounds of drills in southern Pingtung county testing the precision shooting capabilities of its missiles and rockets, the Military News Agency (MNA) reported Thursday.
The two rounds of live-fire exercises included the annual "Mighty Eagle" exercises that featured the Army Aviation and Special Forces Command's attack helicopter series: the AH-64E Apache and AH-1W SuperCobra attack helicopters, and the OH-58D Kiowa Warrior reconnaissance helicopter, according to the report.
During the daytime portion of the "Mighty Eagle" drill, the helicopters fired cannons at targets in the sea and in the air. At night the choppers fired Hellfire and Sidewinder missiles at targets in the sea, the report said.
Another drill codenamed "Thunder" featured live-fire exercises involving troops from the Army's 43rd Artillery Command and 58th Artillery Command operating the locally-made Thunderbolt-2000 Multiple Launch Rocket (MLR) System.
The Thunderbolt-2000 is a wheeled MLRS system produced by the National Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology.
The modular, truck-mounted, multi-barrel MLRS has quick-fire potential against enemy amphibious assault landings.
"Mighty Eagle" and "Thunder" are the Army's major annual drills that test troops' familiarity with precision weapons systems. They were held at Jiupeng Base in Pingtung's Manzhou Township this year.
The MNA report did not disclose when the drills were held but according to an Army source, both took place from April 9 to Wednesday.
- 2 stealth missile corvettes to be commissioned into Navy in MayTaiwan's Navy is expected to commission two more domestically-built Tou Jiang-class stealth missile corvettes into service next month, meaning they will be officially ready to safeguard the waters around Taiwan, a source told CNA Monday.04/22/2024 03:49 PM
- Missile falls off P-3C plane during aerial training: Air ForceA missile carrying no warhead fell off a P-3C anti-submarine aircraft during routine aerial training Thursday, according to the Air Force Command Headquarters.04/18/2024 07:12 PM
- Defense minister defends estimated cost of indigenous sub programDefense Minister Chiu Kuo-cheng (邱國正) on Wednesday defended the Indigenous Defense Submarine (IDS) program and said claims by local media that the cost per sub would soar were "unfair."04/17/2024 06:48 PM
- Culture
Taiwan's National Cultural Award honors 3 for important contributions
05/09/2024 11:44 PM - Society
Pazeh people apply for recognition of official Indigenous status
05/09/2024 11:37 PM - Society
Suspect in real estate case repatriated back to Taiwan
05/09/2024 11:16 PM - Society
Government proposes harsher punishments for fraud
05/09/2024 11:15 PM - Cross-Strait
11 Chinese vessels detected in Taiwan-controlled waters off Kinmen
05/09/2024 11:05 PM