Han Kuang 42 Live-Fire Phase Begins: M1A2T Abrams Debut, Reservist Beach Drills, 10-Day Sustained Defense Test

Taiwan's armed forces began the 10-day, nine-night live-fire phase of the annual Han Kuang 42 exercise on August 5, 2026, running through August 14, designed to test the military's ability to sustain 24-hour defense operations. For the first time, M1A2T Abrams tanks participated — the final shipment of 108 units arrived in Taiwan in April 2026 and was assigned to the 584th Armored Brigade for defense of strategic locations in northern Taiwan. Two brigade-level reserve units (one northern, one southern) were activated, mobilizing roughly 5,000 reservists, up from over 3,000 the previous year. New elements included U.S.-style rehearsal methods (confirmation 'backbriefs'), blockage drills at the newly opened Danjiang Bridge, and the debut of Taiwan's newly inaugurated Littoral Combat Command integrating Navy capabilities. On the northwest coast, reservists conducted live-fire beach training with assault rifles, machine guns and pistols at a site identified as a likely amphibious landing zone. The exercise followed a tabletop war-games phase held April 11-24, 2026, marking the 42nd edition of Taiwan's largest annual military exercise.