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Taiwan Modernizes Ground Forces with Upgraded M60A3 Tanks and Incoming M1A2Ts.
Amid growing regional tensions, Taiwan is implementing a dual strategy to enhance its armored capabilities by modernizing its fleet of M60A3 tanks while gradually integrating newly delivered M1A2T Abrams tanks from the United States. This initiative aims to reinforce the country’s ground defense while optimizing its military resources. On March 8, 2025, The Central News Agency published images confirming the progress of these modifications, highlighting efforts to extend the operational relevance of the M60A3 in an evolving battlefield environment.
The upgraded M60A3 tanks appears in Hengchun with a turret equipped with welded armor (Picture source: Central News Agency )
Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense has commissioned the National Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology (NCSIST) to develop new targeting and observation systems for the M60A3. The objective is to improve the accuracy and effectiveness of these tanks in combat. Having been in service for several decades, the M60A3 is undergoing a phased modernization, with tests proceeding as scheduled and full validation expected by October. Recently, two modified units were spotted in Pingtung County, bearing the NCSIST emblem. Photographs reveal key upgrades, including welded armor on the turret, a design technique inspired by Taiwan’s domestically produced Clouded Leopard 8×8 armored vehicles.
According to Shu Hsiao-Huang, an expert at the Institute for National Defense and Security Research, these modifications significantly enhance the M60A3’s defensive capabilities. Additional visible upgrades include equipment mounted at the rear of the turret, which appears to house an improved environmental control system. This system is designed to maintain optimal operating conditions for advanced fire-control technologies, such as thermal imaging, infrared sensors, laser rangefinders, and barrel alignment detectors. These improvements are intended to increase first-shot accuracy and enhance overall operational performance.
Alongside these upgrades, Taiwan continues to receive its M1A2T Abrams tanks, an advanced variant of the U.S. Army’s main battle tank. Under a 2019 agreement with the United States, Taiwan is set to receive 108 units in multiple phases. The modernization of the M60A3 and the deployment of the M1A2T are part of a broader strategy to strengthen Taiwan’s ground forces against potential threats. Military planners indicate that these two tank models will operate in a complementary manner, with the M1A2T providing enhanced offensive capabilities while the upgraded M60A3s fulfill a strategic role within Taiwan’s armored forces.
Images released by the Central News Agency also show further enhancements to the M60A3, including additional armored plating on the turret’s flanks. Other modifications include smoke grenade launchers positioned at the front of the turret, indicating an upgrade to the passive defense system. These components may also be part of an active protection system designed to counter specific threats.
A notable addition is a device mounted on the turret roof, resembling an optoelectronic suppression system or a laser designation unit. Such technology, commonly seen on modern platforms, is designed to disrupt enemy targeting systems and improve battlefield survivability. The turret profile of the upgraded M60A3 has also changed due to the addition of an enlarged rear storage basket, similar to that of the M1A2 Abrams, likely used for storing extra equipment, tools, or a power supply unit for the newly integrated systems.
In December, previously released images showed that some Taiwanese M60A3s had been fitted with slat armor to improve protection against drones and other aerial threats. This additional armor, installed along the vehicle’s sides and turret, aims to mitigate the impact of projectiles and reduce the effectiveness of drone attacks.
By upgrading the M60A3 and gradually integrating the M1A2T, Taiwan is taking a pragmatic approach to maintaining the effectiveness of its armored forces while incorporating modern technologies. Insights gained from these modifications could also inform future adaptations for the M1A2T, further reinforcing Taiwan’s defensive posture in response to emerging challenges.