US Delivers First Batch of M1A2T Tanks to Taiwan, Expectedto Arrive by Year’s End
Taipei, Taiwan – Thefirst batch of M1A2T main battle tanks purchased by Taiwan from the United States has been shipped and is expected to arrive on the island by the end of theyear, according to Taiwan’s United Daily News.
The news outlet reported that footage of the tanks being transported by rail in the US was uploaded to the internetby local rail enthusiasts. The video shows the tanks, painted in a fresh NATO three-color camouflage, being transported westward on a freight train.
According to a post on social media by local military expert Lu Deyun, the tankswere spotted at the La Plata railway station in Missouri on September 23rd. The train, operated by the Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNSF) Railway Company, was carrying 12 M1A2 tanks southwest towards Kansas City, en route to the US West Coast for loading onto a ship bound for Taiwan.
The tanks are reportedly equipped with the Auxiliary Cooling and Power System (ACPS), a feature found on the M1A2S and the M1A2K tanks sold to Kuwait. This confirms that the tanks are indeed the M1A2T model specifically designed for Taiwan’s military, as previously announced by Taiwan’s defense ministry.
Taiwan’s decision to purchase the M1A2 tanks was made in July 2018, with the first budget allocation for the purchase being included in the 2019 defense budget. TheUS State Department approved the sale in July 2019, and the US Department of Defense awarded a contract to General Dynamics Land Systems (GDLS) in February 2021 to begin modifying the tanks for Taiwan.
Taiwan’s defense ministry has confirmed that the first batch of 38 M1A2T tanks will arrive in December and will be delivered to the Armored Training Command for training purposes. Additionally, dozens of Taiwanese instructors are expected to return to Taiwan by November to prepare for the tank’s introduction into service, which is scheduled to begin after the Chinese New Year in February.
The delivery of these tanks isthe latest development in the ongoing arms sales between the US and Taiwan, which have been increasing in recent years amid growing tensions with China. The move is likely to further escalate tensions between Beijing and Taipei, as China views Taiwan as a breakaway province that must be reunified with the mainland, by force if necessary.
References:
- United Daily News (2024, September 27). 美国售台首批M1A2T坦克发货 预计年底运抵台岛. Retrieved from https://www.udn.com/news/story/7333/7525321
- Lu Deyun (2024, September 23). Facebook post. Retrieved from https://www.facebook.com/lu.deyun
- BNSF Railway Company (2024). BNSF Railway Map. Retrieved from https://www.bnsf.com/about-bnsf/maps
Note:This article is based on information from the provided sources and does not express any opinions or biases.
Views: 0