Taiwan Fires HIMARS on West Coast for First Time, Simulating Chinese Invasion
Updated
Updated · NBC News · Jun 10
Taiwan Fires HIMARS on West Coast for First Time, Simulating Chinese Invasion
3 articles · Updated · NBC News · Jun 10
Summary
Taichung hosted Taiwan’s first west-coast HIMARS live-fire drill on Wednesday, aimed at striking an invading Chinese force at the island’s most likely landing zone.
The military said the exercise showcased HIMARS’ “shoot-and-scoot” mobility—firing and quickly withdrawing to avoid radar tracking and counterstrikes, improving battlefield survivability.
With a range of about 190 miles, the Lockheed Martin-made system could hit targets in China’s Fujian province and would complement Taiwan’s Thunderbolt-2000 launchers, which were fired a day earlier.
The test fits Taiwan’s broader asymmetric “porcupine” strategy of relying on mobile, hard-to-target weapons as Chinese warplanes and warships operate around the island almost daily.
With US arms arriving after 2030, can Taiwan's drone 'hellscape' actually stop a 2027 invasion?
Is the 'hellscape' strategy a path to Taiwan's victory or its complete annihilation?
Taiwan’s 2026 Military Modernization: Thunderbolt-2000 Live-Fire Drill, Forward-Deployed HIMARS, and the Semiconductor Security Dilemma
Overview
On June 9, 2026, Taiwan's military held a major coastal defense drill near Taichung, highlighting its improved defensive capabilities and readiness. The exercise featured the live-fire use of the Thunderbolt-2000 rocket system, marking its first operational deployment in seven years. Known for its long-range suppression and high mobility, the Thunderbolt-2000 is central to Taiwan's strategy to deter amphibious assaults. This drill also introduced a much shorter preparation time for troops, showing a shift toward rapid deployment and greater adaptability. Together, these changes reflect Taiwan’s commitment to a more agile and robust coastal defense.