Taiwan Troops Begin Drills With 'Tank Killer' Javelins That Destroyed Russian Armored Spearheads

The effectiveness of the U.S.-made Javelin man-portable anti-tank missile has prompted Taiwan to start using the powerful weapon amid threats of a Chinese invasion. According to the latest reports, Taiwanese soldiers have already begun practicing the "fire-and-forget" munition.

The 66th Marine Brigade, a prominent unit that guards Taipei, has already started firing the portable missiles, dubbed ''tank killers," reported South China Morning Post. The report, quoting Taiwanese local media, said a series of drills were held in the past week in Pingtung, southern Taiwan, using the Javelins.

The war games saw the brigades successfully destroying the decoy tanks in day-and-night drills. The Taiwanese military is using the third-generation model of the Javelin, with the two assault modes of direct and overhead, said a brigade officer.

Though Taiwan's armed forces have about 1,000 such missiles at present, it has bought 400 more from the United States after realizing its potential. These missiles are expected to be delivered in batches soon. Taiwan has set aside $112 million for purchasing the missiles and 42 launch systems.

The FGM-148 Javelin, which has been in use since 1996, is called a "tank-killers" because its warhead can decimate a modern tank by hitting them from above, where its armor is the most vulnerable. The anti-tank-guided munition, which can be carried and launched by a single person, can also be used to attack buildings, helicopters and targets beneath obstructions or that are too close to attempt an overhead strike. It has a range of 2.5 kilometers, can reach an altitude of 150 meters and is equipped with an infrared seeker.

Taiwan has also ordered 250 Stinger missiles from the U.S. The surface-to-air missiles have also proven effective in Ukraine's resistance against Russia.

Taiwan is now reportedly focusing on "asymmetric warfare," an idea championed by Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen. As per the concept, the troops will focus on high-tech, mobile and vehicle-mounted missiles designed to make any Chinese attack as difficult as possible.

Analysts have also supported Taiwan's tactic.

"Ukraine's military has been making full use of asymmetric warfare very effectively, and so far successfully holding off Russia’s advance," said Ma Cheng-Kun, director of the Graduate Institute of China Military Affairs Studies at Taiwan's National Defence University. "That’s exactly what our armed forces have been proactively developing."