The locally developed Thunderbolt-2000 artillery multiple-launch rocket system (AMLRS) will join the nation’s largest annual drill during a scheduled live-fire exercise next month, the Ministry of National Defense (MND) has announced.

The Thunderbolt, a wheeled AMLRS, will be tested during the live-fire exercise to be held at the offshore island of Penghu on April 17 as part of the annual Han Kuang series of exercises, Major General Tseng Fu-hsin of the MND announced recently.

A number of Thunderbolt-2000s will be used during the April 17 drill, he noted, saying 81 rockets will be fired in the process.

The weapon system was developed by the military’s chief research facility, the Chungshan Institute of Science and Technology (CSIST). Development of the system began in 1997.

The truck-mounted, multi-barrel AMLRS is designed to provide a quickfire response against enemy amphibious assault landings. It is expected to be installed at military units around the country soon.

The surface-to-air standard missile II and the locally developed Hsiung Feng III anti-ship missile will not be included in the exercises slated for April, according to the Ministry.