Taiwan allocates $57 billion for 178 105mm wheeled artillery amid China threat

Defense self‑reliance and the construction of ground‑defense capabilities have long been the cornerstone of Taiwan’s national security policy. Confronted with the Chinese Communist Party’s steadily growing military threat and its expanding amphibious‑landing capacity, the armed forces continue to review and enhance the firepower and mobility of their ground units. According to the latest defense budget for the 2027 fiscal year submitted to the Legislative Yuan, the army has formally allocated a continuing budget covering 2027‑2033, amounting to NT$570.7 billion, to procure 178 105‑mm wheeled artillery vehicles. The launch of this major acquisition marks a pivotal milestone in the modernization of the military’s main equipment and provides tangible validation of the Armaments Bureau’s years‑long research and development efforts.

The development of this weapon system has been a gradual process. The 105‑mm wheeled artillery vehicle, spearheaded by the Armaments Bureau of the Ministry of National Defense, is the next major product of Taiwan’s self‑reliant defense policy after the Yunbao eight‑wheel armored vehicle. To ensure the heavy wheeled combat vehicle meets the rigorous demands of modern warfare, the development team has carried out multiple phases of exacting testing and performance refinement over recent years. Early D1 prototypes were used for basic performance and structural verification; subsequent D2 prototypes addressed identified deficiencies and refined the user interface, with each stage reflecting the combined efforts of domestic industry, academia, and research institutes. The current budget allocation is based on the most recent D3 prototype, which has successfully passed the army’s operational assessment, confirming that its performance and reliability meet military standards.

The addition of 178 vehicles, funded at more than NT$570 billion, will deliver a substantial boost to the army’s ground forces. Compared with traditional tracked tanks, wheeled artillery offers superior mobility and road‑cruising capability, enabling rapid redeployment across Taiwan’s extensive road network and embodying the “speed is essential” tactical concept. The onboard 105‑mm main gun is capable of penetrating most enemy light‑armor targets and can provide infantry units with powerful, timely direct‑fire support. Under the strategic guidance of “defense in depth and layered deterrence,” this new artillery platform will become an indispensable mobile strike asset in homeland‑defense operations, markedly enhancing tactical flexibility during coastal decisive battles and beach‑head elimination phases.

From a broader defense‑industry and self‑reliance perspective, the multi‑hundred‑billion‑NT$ continuing budget not only demonstrates the government’s commitment to indigenous defense but also promises far‑reaching economic and technological spillovers for the domestic supply chain. The substantial investment will sustain local metal‑working, systems integration, optical‑sighting, and vehicle‑manufacturing sectors, creating jobs and fostering industry growth. More importantly, large‑scale production and fielding of the system will allow Taiwan to gradually reduce its reliance on foreign arms sales, securing autonomy over critical defense materiel and localizing logistics and maintenance—a strategic advantage that strengthens the nation’s overall security resilience.

Looking ahead, as the Legislative Yuan commences its review of the 2027 defense budget, this multi‑year, multi‑billion procurement is set to become a focal point for lawmakers across the political spectrum. Ensuring fiscal discipline while monitoring the military’s delivery schedule, logistical support capacity, and technology‑transfer arrangements will be central to parliamentary oversight. Nonetheless, the successful testing and budgeting of the 105‑mm wheeled artillery vehicle has opened a new chapter in the modernization of Taiwan’s ground forces. Confronted by an increasingly volatile regional security environment, Taiwan is methodically demonstrating its resolve for self‑defense through concrete force‑building actions, signaling its determination to the international community.

Source: Central News Agency.