The Ministry of National Defense of the Republic of China (Taiwan) has confirmed that High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS) were used for the first time in a live-fire drill.
The drill, codenamed “Thunderbolt,” was conducted on May 10 as part of Taiwan’s annual missile training exercise. According to the defense ministry, Army units successfully launched coordinated strikes using both the newly fielded HIMARS and domestically developed Thunderbolt 2000 multiple launch rocket systems against maritime targets.
Taiwan quietly received its first batch of 11 HIMARS units in January 2025 as part of a U.S. arms package initially announced in 2021. In total, the deal includes 29 systems. The Ministry of National Defense had acknowledged delivery of the first batch in late 2023 but refrained from detailing the systems’ deployment until now.
Each HIMARS launcher is capable of firing six GPS-guided GMLRS rockets or one MGM-140 ATACMS tactical missile with a range exceeding 500 kilometers.
#HIMARS debuts in #Taiwan, showcasing rapid deployment and next-generation strike capabilities.#ROCArmedForces pic.twitter.com/n0Uikc8jCX
— 國防部 Ministry of National Defense, ROC(Taiwan) 🇹🇼 (@MoNDefense) May 12, 2025
The new system provides Taiwan with the ability to engage distant high-value targets from mobile platforms, strengthening its deterrence posture in the face of growing threats from the People’s Republic of China.
The HIMARS system has gained global attention following its battlefield success in Ukraine, where it has been credited with disrupting Russian logistics and command infrastructure.
Further HIMARS deliveries are expected later in 2025.