The US government on Wednesday last week announced the potential sale of eight arms packages to Taiwan, including HIMARS, anti-tank missiles and drones, at an estimated cost of US$11.1 billion. It was the second round of arms sales to Taiwan during US President Donald Trump’s second term. Five of the eight arms packages — the M109 howitzers, HIMARS, TOW guided anti-tank missiles, anti-armor drones and Javelin anti-tank missiles — are covered in an NT$1.25 trillion (US$39.7 billion) special defense budget put forth last month by the government, pending lawmakers’ review. Taiwan is reported to have reduced the number of M109A7 howitzers requested to 120 from 168 out of concern that the delivery of the weapons might not be completed within the execution timeline for the special budget. The M109A7 is the latest variant in the M109 family of self-propelled howitzers.

Source: Taipei Times December 22, 2025 16:35 UTC