In addition to long-range missiles, the HIMARS can also launch 70-km-range rockets, filling a crucial gap in Taiwan’s arsenal. Domestically produced rockets have a maximum range of about 45 km, which analysts say is no longer sufficient to counter the evolving tactics of the PLA.

“The HIMARS rockets, with their extended range and improved precision, address the limitations of Taiwan’s existing systems,” said Chieh Chung, an adjunct associate research fellow at the Institute for National Defense and Security Research, a government-funded think tank in Taipei.

Chieh added that the mobility of the HIMARS platform allows it to rapidly relocate and engage targets, offering an advantage in the event of a PLA amphibious landing.

However, the system’s extended range also poses operational challenges. It requires accurate long-distance target acquisition, which requires greater coordination with allied forces or Taiwan’s other branches of the military. “This compels the Army to improve its information systems, communications networks, and inter-service coordination,” Chieh said.

/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/05/13/asia-pacific/taiwan-himars-missiles-china/