Taiwan revamps forces, shifting to high-tech artillery and drone-centric defense

Taiwan's defence ministry has launched a force-transformation plan that emphasizes high-tech firepower over sheer manpower. New artillery platforms such as the High Mobility Artillery Rocket System and M109 howitzers will operate with three-person crews, freeing soldiers for newly created rocket artillery battalions. UAV capabilities are being folded into artillery commands, with units receiving first-person-view attack drones, reconnaissance drones and Altius loitering munitions, including orders for 2,000 anti-armor and ISR models.

The Air Force Security Guard corps will expand to a brigade-size formation equipped with Stingers, Kestrel rockets and will eventually operate Patriot PAC-3 MSE and NASAMS systems once a US $14 billion weapons package is approved. The Littoral Combat Command will add a fourth combat group with dedicated vertical-take-off drones, and training commands for uncrewed systems have already been set up. Meanwhile, Typhoon Champi is forecast to affect the island with heavy rain and strong winds, leading to land and sea warnings and widespread cancellations of schools and transport services.