Breaking News
U.S. Approves $4.03B M109A7 Self-Propelled Howitzer Sale to Bolster Taiwan’s Artillery Forces.
The United States has approved a potential $4.03 billion Foreign Military Sale to Taiwan for M109A7 155 mm self-propelled howitzers and related support systems. The move reinforces Taiwan’s ability to field mobile, survivable artillery forces amid sustained military pressure from China.
On December 17, 2025, Washington approved a new Foreign Military Sale notification for Taiwan centered on tracked 155 mm self-propelled artillery, as reported by the U.S. Defense Security Cooperation Agency. The U.S. has approved the $4.03 billion sale of M109A7 Self-Propelled Howitzers to Taiwan, presented as a possible deal to the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in Washington. The package includes ammunition support vehicles, precision aids, and a digital fire-control system. Coming amid sustained cross-strait tensions, the move highlights U.S. support for strengthening Taiwan’s long-range firepower and command resilience.
The United States has approved a proposed $4.03 billion sale of M109A7 155 mm self-propelled howitzers and support systems to strengthen Taiwan’s mobile, networked artillery deterrent (Picture Source: U.S. Army)
At the center of the notification is the M109A7, the latest U.S. Army-standard Paladin family self-propelled howitzer, a tracked 155 mm system designed to deliver responsive indirect fires while relocating rapidly to reduce exposure to counter-battery threats. TECRO’s request covers 60 M109A7 howitzers and 60 M992A3 Carrier Ammunition Tracked vehicles, supplemented by 13 M88A2 recovery vehicles, 4,080 Precision Guidance Kits, and 42 International Field Artillery Tactical Data Systems (IFATDS) fire-control nodes. For Taiwan, the capability increase is less about a single platform and more about an artillery “system of systems”: protected mobility for shoot-and-move, sustained logistics at the firing unit, and faster sensor-to-shooter cycles supported by digital mission processing, all of which are central to surviving and fighting under modern ISR and precision-strike conditions.
The M109A7’s development lineage reflects a long-running U.S. effort to keep tube artillery viable under precision-era constraints by improving reliability, automotive commonality, and integration with networked fire direction, rather than relying only on incremental upgrades to older variants. The current U.S. industrial base is anchored by BAE Systems’ Paladin production and support work for the U.S. Army, with major recent contract actions covering additional M109A7 and M992A3 production and fielding kits. This matters for Taiwan because it suggests a mature, in-production ecosystem with established training and sustainment pathways, even as the DSCA notice itself states the principal contractor for the Taiwan case will be selected through competitive U.S. government procurements under federal acquisition rules.
The package strengthens Taiwan’s ability to deliver accurate artillery fire at short notice and relocate rapidly to avoid counter-battery attacks. IFATDS enables faster sensor-to-shooter coordination across multiple units, while Precision Guidance Kits improve the accuracy of standard 155 mm rounds, reducing ammunition expenditure per target. Combined with M795 high-explosive projectiles, supporting munitions, communications equipment, and training, the system is designed to sustain firing tempo and support both coastal and inland defensive missions against time-sensitive targets.
From a strategic perspective, the DSCA states that the proposed sale aligns with U.S. law and policy and supports Taiwan’s ongoing force modernization without altering the regional military balance. The estimated $4.03 billion value represents a maximum ceiling and may be reduced depending on final contracts and budget decisions. The scale of the package nonetheless underscores Taiwan’s focus on survivable, networked ground-based firepower, reinforcing a broader shift toward dispersed and layered defensive capabilities under contested conditions.
Taiwan’s M109A7 request packages tracked 155 mm firepower with the logistics vehicles, recovery assets, precision guidance, and fire-control network needed to translate artillery into sustained combat power. If finalized, it would deepen Taiwan’s ability to strike quickly, displace fast, and operate with tighter accuracy and coordination, while reinforcing the United States’ policy line that supporting Taiwan’s self-defense remains a pillar of regional stability.