Rocket practice rounds are launched from M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) during a testing drill in Pingtung County, Southern Taiwan, Monday, May 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Chiang Ying-ying) A Land Sword II (TC-2) ground-to-air missile is launched during a testing drill in Pingtung County,

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The military began a series of annual exercises in Pingtung on Monday to verify the effectiveness of precision-guided munitions.

TAIWAN: Taiwan conducted on Monday (May 12) its first live-firing of High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS) purchased from the United States, as the self-ruled island upgrades its capabilities to repel a potential Chinese attack.

Taiwan’s military has just wrapped up its first day of live-fire missile tests in the south of the country using the HIMARS system bought from the U.S. Defense reporter Jaime Ocon was there to see them in action.

According to the Army, missile launches will take place on May 12. The test is scheduled from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and 1:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m., per Liberty Times. A maximum altitude is set at 20,000 feet.

In the Indo-Pacific area of operations, with its vast distances and suitability for naval and air operations, the M142 HIMARS would mainly play a defensive role.

Russia’s best drone unit just flew an un-jammable attack drone at least six miles behind the front line in eastern Ukraine and blew up one of the Ukrainian army’s precious High-Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems wheeled launchers.