Taiwan Demonstrates Shoot-And-Scoot' US-Made HIMARS Capability In Live-Fire Drill Facing China

Published 11 June 2026 · world

Taiwan Demonstrates Shoot-And-Scoot' US-Made HIMARS Capability In Live-Fire Drill Facing China Published By, Last Updated: June 11, 2026, 05:43 IST The drill marked the first

Taiwan Demonstrates Shoot-And-Scoot' US-Made HIMARS Capability In Live-Fire Drill Facing China Published By, Last Updated: June 11, 2026, 05:43 IST The drill marked the first time Taiwan has fired HIMARS rockets into the waters of the Taiwan Strait. Rapid Read Military officials said the exercise was designed to test rapid deployment and precision-strike capabilities. Taiwan’s military fired rockets from US-supplied High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS) during a live-fire exercise, demonstrating how the island could respond to a potential military attack from China. The drill marked the first time Taiwan has fired HIMARS rockets into the waters of the Taiwan Strait, the narrow body of water separating the self-governed island from mainland China. Military officials said the exercise was designed to test rapid deployment and precision-strike capabilities as part of Taiwan’s broader strategy to deter a possible Chinese invasion.

“Due to the current enemy threat, we will continue HIMARS training with unwavering determination to protect Taiwan as the nation’s strongest force," army Sgt. Wang Ming-hui said during the exercise. Taiwan’s military stressed that the rockets used were reduced-range training rounds that travelled only a short distance offshore before landing in the water. The HIMARS system, supplied by the United States, has become a key element of Taiwan’s defence modernisation efforts. Mounted on trucks, the rocket launchers are designed for “shoot-and-scoot" operations, allowing forces to rapidly fire missiles and relocate before enemy forces can respond. During the drill on Taiwan’s western coast, facing China, HIMARS vehicles moved into firing positions and launched rockets within minutes of receiving orders, showcasing their mobility and rapid-response capabilities.

The exercise also involved 155 mm self-propelled howitzers and simulated a military response to an invasion scenario. China claims Taiwan as part of its territory and has repeatedly stated that reunification must eventually occur, by force if necessary. Beijing regularly sends military aircraft and naval vessels near the island and has conducted several large-scale military exercises around Taiwan in recent years. While the United States does not formally recognise Taiwan as a sovereign state, Washington opposes any attempt to alter the status quo through force and remains Taiwan’s principal supplier of defensive weapons. The United States announced plans in December to sell an additional 82 HIMARS launchers to Taiwan as part of a major arms package. However, reports indicate the deal may have been placed on hold following US President Donald Trump’s meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing last month.