Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense has greenlit a sweeping upgrade of its ground-based firepower systems, spearheaded by the acquisition of 168 M109A7 155mm self-propelled howitzers. The deal, estimated at over NT$90 billion (approximately $2.75 billion USD), constitutes the single largest investment in Taiwan’s artillery capabilities in decades and is emblematic of the island’s growing reliance on advanced U.S. defense technology to counter China’s mounting military pressure.
The purchase dramatically expands on a previous plan to procure just 40 units, signaling Taipei’s urgent recognition of the operational obsolescence of its current artillery force and the evolving threat environment. According to Taiwan’s Liberty Times Next, the decision was finalized in June 2025 and includes associated M992A3 field artillery ammunition supply vehicles. These support vehicles, based on the same rugged chassis as the M109A7, will greatly enhance logistical coordination and firepower sustainability in wartime scenarios.
Taiwan’s existing artillery inventory—composed of 488 aging tracked howitzers such as the M109A2/A5s, M110A2s, M108s, and locally produced T-69s—is plagued by obsolescence, limited parts availability, and declining operational readiness. Many of these systems are no longer supported by original manufacturers and lack the automation, precision, and survivability features required for modern combined-arms operations. The introduction of the M109A7 will begin a generational shift, providing Taiwan with a force-multiplier designed to operate seamlessly within digital battlespaces.
The M109A7, developed under the U.S. Army’s Paladin Integrated Management (PIM) program, represents the culmination of decades of iterative artillery modernization. While retaining the 155mm cannon of the M109A6 Paladin, the M109A7 is essentially a new platform. It uses a digital fire control system, electric gun drives, and an automated loader, and integrates seamlessly into networked battlefield command systems. The howitzer is designed for “shoot-and-scoot” tactics, allowing rapid fire missions followed by immediate displacement to avoid counter-battery detection and attack.
What sets the M109A7 apart is its new hull and powertrain, derived from the Bradley Fighting Vehicle, providing both logistical commonality and improved armor protection. It boasts a maximum effective range of around 30 kilometers with standard rounds and over 40 kilometers using rocket-assisted projectiles. The system is capable of sustained high-volume fire, supporting both maneuver units and static defenses across a range of operational scenarios, from amphibious invasion response to urban warfare.
Additionally, the M109A7 is future-proofed: its onboard power system is capable of supporting new generations of sensors, communications equipment, and even directed energy weapons, should Taiwan’s defense ecosystem expand in that direction.
While the howitzers themselves offer significant firepower improvements, Taiwan’s request to acquire the M982 Excalibur precision-guided artillery round—essential to maximizing the M109A7’s full combat potential—remains pending in the U.S. Foreign Military Sales approval process. These GPS-guided rounds can strike targets over 40 kilometers away with near-pinpoint accuracy, drastically reducing the need for saturation fire and lowering collateral damage risks.
Defense analysts warn that the absence of such precision-guided munitions in initial deployments could hamper Taiwan’s efforts to conduct coordinated, deep-strike operations against Chinese assets during high-tempo engagements. Approval and delivery of Excalibur rounds are therefore seen as a crucial next step in operationalizing the M109A7 fleet.
The M109A7 deal is part of a larger, multi-domain military revitalization effort supported by successive U.S. arms sales to Taiwan. Over the past five years, Washington has authorized more than $25 billion in defense transfers to Taipei under the Taiwan Relations Act and subsequent legislation, including the 2022 Taiwan Enhanced Resilience Act.
M1A2T Abrams Tanks: Taiwan has begun receiving the first units of 108 M1A2T tanks, a customized version of the M1A2 SEPv2. These tanks feature advanced armor, upgraded sensors, and integrated digital systems. In the event of an amphibious invasion, they are expected to spearhead counterattacks in both urban and rugged terrain.
HIMARS Rocket Systems: Already in limited service, the High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) provides Taiwan with a long-range strike capability using munitions such as the GMLRS and ATACMS. These allow engagement of high-value targets—like airfields, command posts, and missile launchers—up to 300 kilometers away.
Standoff and Maritime Systems: Recent U.S. approvals include the AGM-154C Joint Standoff Weapon (JSOW), Mk 48 Mod 6 heavyweight torpedoes for submarine use, and FIM-92 Stinger MANPADS for mobile air defense. These systems are critical for deterring or delaying Chinese amphibious or aerial operations.
Taiwan’s evolving military doctrine now leans heavily toward “strategic denial”—a shift from passive deterrence to active measures that would make any invasion prohibitively costly for Beijing. The island’s asymmetric defense strategy emphasizes mobility, dispersion, precision, and survivability over the maintenance of traditional force ratios.
In this context, the M109A7 is not merely a replacement system. It is a key enabler of Taiwan’s “kill chain” approach, allowing mobile artillery units to rapidly deploy, fire with precision, and reposition in coordination with UAV reconnaissance and ISR networks. The M109A7’s integration into Taiwan’s digitized command-and-control infrastructure will reduce target acquisition time and improve strike responsiveness, giving Taiwan a better chance of disrupting Chinese operational momentum in the critical opening days of a conflict.
Beijing has repeatedly condemned U.S. arms sales to Taiwan, viewing them as violations of the “One China” policy. The announcement of the expanded M109A7 deal has already prompted sharp rebukes from China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, warning that continued arms transfers “undermine peace and stability” in the Taiwan Strait.
However, for Washington, the calculus is clear. As part of its broader Indo-Pacific strategy, the U.S. views Taiwan as a linchpin in the “First Island Chain” — a line of allied and partner nations stretching from Japan through the Philippines that serves as a geographic counterweight to China’s maritime ambitions. Supporting Taiwan’s defense is thus not only a matter of bilateral interest, but a strategic imperative in deterring Chinese revisionism.
In recent months, joint U.S.-Taiwan training exercises have also expanded, albeit quietly. American defense contractors and advisors have been working behind the scenes to prepare Taiwanese crews for the arrival of the M109A7 systems, which are expected to be operationally deployed beginning in late 2026.
Domestic response in Taiwan has been largely supportive, with defense analysts and lawmakers from across party lines praising the scale and speed of the modernization push. Legislators from the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) emphasize that this procurement reflects Taiwan’s maturing defense posture—one that no longer simply reacts to threats but proactively shapes battlefield dynamics.
Still, there are concerns. Critics warn of logistical bottlenecks in integrating so many new platforms simultaneously. Training, maintenance infrastructure, and long-term sustainment will require a significant expansion of Taiwan’s defense industrial base, which is currently limited in its ability to produce or repair advanced foreign systems.
Additionally, there are rising concerns over Chinese gray-zone warfare—non-kinetic activities such as cyber attacks, disinformation campaigns, and economic coercion—which military hardware alone cannot fully counter.
