Taiwan has ordered a total of 108 of the upgraded tanks from the United States. The vehicles are unlikely to deter China on their own, but certain to complicate its invasion plans.

The self-ruling island nation of Taiwan continues to enhance its military in anticipation of a potential invasion from mainland China. By the end of March, the Taiwanese Armed Forces are expected to receive their final 28 American-made M1 Abrams main battle tanks (MBTs). The new vehicles will replace the country’s aging fleet of M60A3 and CM11 tanks, which have been in service for more than 30 years.

Taipei has taken delivery of 80 M1A2T variants, developed specifically for operations in Taiwan.

The M1A2T Abrams Tank’s Specifications

• Year Introduced: 2022 (first deliveries)
• Number Built: ~108
• Length: 7.93 m (26 ft)
• Width: 3.7 m (12.1 ft)
• Height: 2.4 m (7.87 ft)
• Weight: Approximately 63 metric tons (66.4 tons)
• Propulsion: 1,500hp Honeywell AGT1500C gas turbine engine
• Top Speed: 67 km/h (42 mph) on road
• Operational Range: 426 km (265 miles)
• Armaments:
  • 120 mm M256 L/44 smoothbore gun
  • 12.7mm M153A1E1 CROWS-LP, 7.62mm M240C coaxial machine gun
  • 7.62mm M240 machine gun
  • Fire Control: Advanced “hunter-killer” capability, allowing the gunner to engage a target while the commander locates the next one

• Armor: Enhanced composite armor, with added situational awareness systems
• Crew: 4 (commander, gunner, loader, driver)

Based on the M1A2 SEPv3 models, the M1A2T Abrams features non-depleted uranium export-spec armor, a reconfigured turret, an upgraded Auxiliary Power Unit (APU), and modified electrical systems. The Taiwanese models are also equipped with a new ammunition datalink, enabling them to use programmable ordnance.

The MBT’s 120mm M256 smoothbore cannon is touted as being capable of firing warheads that can penetrate up to 850mm of armor. The tank’s “hunter-killer” fire control system can be used to engage enemy targets at ranges up to 4,000 meters (13,123 feet).

China Isn’t Happy About the Taiwan Tank Sale

Taipei first closed a deal with Washington in 2018 for 108 tanks; two early models were delivered to Taiwan in 2022, while the first full-scale batch of 38 units arrived in December 2024. Training and commissioning of the tanks continue, and the vehicles were used in last summer’s live-fire wargames.

The MBTs received approval from the US State Department in July 2019 during the first Trump administration. The Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA), which facilitated the sale of the tanks, put the value of the vehicles and related equipment and support at an “estimated cost of $2 billion.”

Beijing previously condemned the delivery of the second batch of tanks.

“We urge the US to adhere to the one-China principle … and stop arming Taiwan or supporting and encouraging separatist forces attempting to achieve independence through military means,” mainland Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Lin Jian told The South China Morning Post at the time.

China Has a Lot More Tanks than Taiwan Does

An additional 108 MBTs is unlikely to stop an invasion of self-governing Taiwan, which Beijing views as a breakaway province that will be returned to mainland control, by force if necessary. However, it does show a commitment from Washington to Taipei’s defense.

“Completing Taiwan’s M1A2T deliveries under US Foreign Military Sales underscores the depth of US-Taiwan defense cooperation and reinforces a broader regional trend toward hard deterrence in the Indo-Pacific,” Army Recognition explained. The publication added that the MBTc could complicate “invasion planning by raising the cost of ground operations after any initial landing,” while the “program signals Taipei is investing in survivable, high-end capabilities rather than symbolic modernization.”

China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA) is believed to have a force of around 6,800 tanks, including modern MBTs designed for amphibious assaults. However, in an invasion, the PLA would still have to get its tanks and other vehicles to Taiwan—a fact that isn’t lost on Taipei.

Current Taiwanese doctrine calls for a combination of mobility and flexibility to counter any potential amphibious landings. Along with the domestically produced shoulder-launched Kestrel anti-tank rocket launchers, the M1A2T Abrams could be critical in countering an invasion and halting the PLA’s efforts to establish a beachhead.

About the Author: Peter Suciu

Peter Suciu has contributed over 3,200 published pieces to more than four dozen magazines and websites over a 30-year career in journalism. He regularly writes about military hardware, firearms history, cybersecurity, politics, and international affairs. Peter is also a contributing writer for Forbes and Clearance Jobs. He is based in Michigan. You can follow him on Twitter: @PeterSuciu. You can email the author: Editor@nationalinterest.org.

Image: Shutterstock / Karolis Kavolelis.

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