Taiwan gears up for Han Kuang military exercises

2015/08/20

The annual Han Kuang military exercises are scheduled to take place Sept. 7-11 in multiple locations around Taiwan, according to the Ministry of National Defense Aug. 18.

This year’s exercises, the 31st edition since 1984, include 63 drills spanning aircraft and vessel deployment, joint combat operations, personnel training and war gaming.

“Han Kuang 2015 is set to be the biggest ever and features 11 new drills by the air force and the navy,” said Maj. Gen. Zhong Shu-ming, director of the MND’s Joint Operation Division.

According to Zhong, an impressive lineup of next-generation weapon systems will be deployed. These include the Cloud Leopard armored vehicle, homegrown stealth missile corvette Tuo Jiang and supply vessel Pan Shi, P-3C Orion antisubmarine aircraft, and locally developed unmanned aerial vehicles.

The Coast Guard Administration’s June-launched 3,000-ton cutters, CG-128 Yilan and CG-129 Kaohsiung, will also be put through their paces during the exercises.

“Our focus is coordinating the defense and counterattack capabilities among the three branches of the armed forces,” Zhong said. “This will enhance the central command mechanism and raise overall integration and preparedness.”

Live-fire drills are set to take place at military bases in Hsinchu and Pingtung counties in northern and southern Taiwan, respectively, Zhong said, adding that maritime exercises will be staged simultaneously.

Source: Taiwan Today (http://taiwantoday.tw/ct.asp?xItem=233962&ctNode=413)