Taiwan has officially put its first U.S.-made M1A2T Abrams main battle tanks into service, marking a significant step in its military modernization program amid growing regional tensions.

A commissioning ceremony was held on October 31 at the Hukou base in Hsinchu, where President Lai Ching-te oversaw the induction of 28 tanks into the Army’s 584th Armored Brigade, Combined Arms Battalion. The United States approved the sale of 108 M1A2T tanks to Taiwan during former President Donald Trump’s administration, with all deliveries expected to be completed by 2026.

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During the ceremony, President Lai said Taiwan is strengthening its defense capabilities “to protect itself and maintain peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait.” He reiterated opposition to “annexation, aggression, and the forced advancement of unification,” in remarks seen as directed at China.

Lieutenant Colonel Ting Bao-shun, commander of the 584th Brigade’s Combined Arms Battalion, said the M1A2T represents a major improvement over Taiwan’s older CM11 tanks. He noted that the new system’s 120-millimeter smoothbore gun offers greater precision and firepower than the CM11’s 105-millimeter rifled gun. “During conversion training, soldiers worked tirelessly to adapt to the English-language interface and achieved strong results in gunnery exercises,” he said.

Platoon leader Lieutenant Chiu Yu-ching said the tank’s hunter-killer system and remote weapon station enhance target acquisition and engagement speed. “The M1A2T’s firepower is stronger, and the new systems allow the crew to detect and engage targets faster,” she said.

The ceremony included a symbolic handover between the outgoing CM11 and the incoming M1A2T crews. Soldiers also wore commemorative patches featuring the tank’s silhouette and the word “Taiwan,” symbolizing readiness to defend the island.

Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense highlighted that the M1A2T has a maximum speed of 67 km/h and advanced fire control systems that increase combat effectiveness. Analysts suggest Taiwan could consider acquiring older M1A2 variants for domestic upgrade to expand its armored forces cost-effectively while improving integration of networked battlefield systems.