PHOTO ESSAY/Army holds combat-readiness drills ahead of Lunar New Year holiday

Taipei, Jan. 27 (CNA) Taiwan's Ministry of National Defense held combat-readiness drills on Tuesday ahead of the Lunar New Year holiday, with Army units in Taichung conducting integrated land-and-air exercises featuring a range of weaponry.

The drills at the Xinshe base involved personnel from the 586th Combined Arms Brigade, the 58th Artillery Command, and the Army Aviation 602nd Brigade.

Highlights included the Army's Land Sword II missile launcher and M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS), which simulated long-range precision support for the Penghu Islands and showcased Taiwan's deep-strike and joint operations capabilities.

The military also simulated a scenario in which a Chinese 075-class amphibious assault ship launched two Z-8 transport helicopters and four Z-10 attack helicopters from the Taiwan Strait toward central Taiwan. In response, Taiwan's air defense operations center ordered units to engage the incoming aircraft, while ground-based air-defense units, including land-based Hsiung Feng II missile launchers, command vehicles, and radar units, carried out simulated intercepts.

Army special forces, playing the role of enemy troops, fast-roped from UH-60M helicopters into the base to engage defending units and seize key points around the control tower, simulating attacks on hangars and other facilities.

Army Command Headquarters said the drills, which featured HIMARS, demonstrated the military's capabilities in long-range precision strikes and integrated joint operations.