US-made M109A7 howitzers to improve mobility, precision of Taiwan's artillery: Expert

Taipei [Taiwan], December 22 (ANI): With the upcoming addition of American made M109A7 howitzers to Taiwan, an expert noted that it will boost Taiwan's artillery with higher mobility, better precision and more firepower, as reported by Focus Taiwan.
Shu Hsiao-huang, an associate research fellow at Taiwan's military-funded Institute for National Defence and Security Research (INDSR), said the M109A7 howitzers will play a crucial role in modernising Taiwan's artillery capabilities, Focus Taiwan reported.
Focus Taiwan reported, citing Shu, that the M109A7 is able to fire within 60 seconds after receiving an order to do so, which is thus expected to significantly increase the howitzer's survival rate on the battlefield.
Once equipped with a Precision Guidance Kit (PGK), the M109A7's artillery projectile will be able to hit within 30 meters of the target at any range. The PGK will thus add precision guidance to munitions, thereby enabling Taiwan's military to engage targets with greater efficiency, he said.
US President Donald Trump's administration has announced a massive package of arms sales to Taiwan valued at more than USD 10 billion, including medium-range missiles, howitzers and drones, according to the State Department.
The potential sale of eight arms packages to Taiwan, include HIMARS rocket systems, anti-tank missiles, and drones, at an estimated total cost of US$11.1 billion, Focus Taiwan stated.
Five of the eight arms packages -- the M109A7 howitzers, HIMARS rocket systems, TOW 2B anti-tank missiles, anti-armor drones, and FGM-148 Javelin anti-tank missiles -- are covered in an NT$1.25 trillion (US$39.85 billion) special defence budget put forth last month by the Taiwan government, pending lawmakers' review, the Taiwanese news outlet said quoting the country's Defence Ministry.
The US Defence Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) on Wednesday (local time) made the announcement and said it has delivered the required certifications notifying Congress of the sales, following approval by the US State Department.
In a statement issued on Thursday, Taiwan's Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung thanked Washington for the proposed arms sale, saying that it demonstrates the US's commitment to enhancing Taiwan's self-defence capabilities, as highlighted in the National Security Strategy Washington released earlier this month.
"The State Department has made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale to the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in the United States (TECRO) of High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems and related equipment for an estimated cost of $4.05 billion," the DSCA said in a statement.
It further added, "The proposed sale will help improve the security of the recipient and assist in maintaining political stability, military balance, and economic progress in the region."
TECRO has requested to buy 82 M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS); 420 M57 Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS); 756 M31A2 Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System-Unitary pods (GMLRS-U); 447 M30A2 Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System-Alternative Warhead pods (GMLRS-AW); 39 M1152A1 High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicles (HMMWV); 45 International Field Artillery Tactical Data Systems (IFATDS).
Apart from the non-MDE items that will be part of the sale will be: M28A2 Low Cost Reduced Range Practice Rocket pods (LCRRPR); M249 machine gun; 5.56mm; M2A1 machine gun .50 CAL; M1084A2 truck, cargo, Family of Medium Tactical Vehicles (FMTV); Resupply Vehicles (RSV); M1089A2 truck, wrecker, FMTV, cargo, FMTV, RSV; M1095 Trailer, cargo, FMTV 5 Ton; Single Channel Ground and Airborne Radio System (SINCGRAS) Core Communication Management System (CCMS) in support of AN/VRC-90E and AN/VRC-92E; frequency-hopping radios; tool kits; test equipment; support equipment; technical documentation; spare parts; training; US Government and contractor technical support; engineering and logistics support services; field office support; and elements of logistics/program support. The estimated total cost is USD 4.05 billion. (ANI)