ISTANBUL 

Taiwanese leader Lai Ching-te watched live-fire military exercises on Thursday that featured a platoon of M1A2T tanks acquired from the US, Focus Taiwan reported.

Lai observed the drills as part of the 10-day Han Kuang military exercises.

Four tanks conducted firing exercises individually, in pairs, and as a full unit. They targeted stationary and moving objects while positioned still and in motion.

The army said the tanks demonstrated flawless firing accuracy throughout the drill.

Taiwan has committed approximately $1.45 billion between 2019 and 2027 to purchase 108 M1A2T tanks from the US, which are slated to bolster the Sixth Army Corps in northern Taiwan.

Of the total, 38 were delivered in December, with crew training beginning in February. The remaining 70 are expected in two phases: 42 later this year and 28 in 2026.

The US State Department approved the arms sale in 2019, which included the tanks and related systems.

The M1A2T tanks are armed with 120mm smoothbore cannons capable of penetrating up to 850 millimeters of homogeneous steel at designated ranges.

The drills are the longest live-fire exercise, as previous training lasted five days.