CM-32 armoured vehicle

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Clouded Leopard Armored Vehicle
CM33 armored vehicle
TypeArmoured fighting vehicle
Place of origin Taiwan / Ireland
Production history
DesignerOrdnance Readiness Development Center
Designed2002
ManufacturerOrdnance Readiness Development Center
Unit costUS$2 million
Produced2007
No. built378 CM32 and CM33 delivered (2018),[1] 305 CM34 delivered (2023[2])
Specifications
Mass22 tonnes
Length7 m
Width2.7 m
Height2.23 m
Crew2 + 8 passengers
Armor12.7 mm AP front arc, 7.62 mm AP all around
Main
armament
30 mm Mk44 Bushmaster II chaingun (CM34)

40 mm automatic grenade launcher (CM32/33)

105 mm rifled gun, or 120 mm mortar (planned)
Secondary
armament
Type 74 7.62 mm machine gun (co-axial)
EngineCaterpillar C12 diesel, 450 hp
Suspension8×8 wheeled
Operational
range
800 km
Maximum speed120 km/h

The Clouded Leopard Eight-Wheeled Armored Vehicle[3] (Chinese: 雲豹八輪甲車; pinyin: yúnbào bā lún jiǎ chē; lit. 'Cloud Leopard Eight-Wheeled Armored Vehicle'), also known as the Taiwan Infantry Fighting Vehicle (TIFV), is a family of eight-wheeled armored vehicle currently being produced for the Republic of China Army. It is based on the 6x6 CM31 designed by Timoney Technology Limited of Ireland and is further developed by the Ordnance Readiness Development Center.[4]

According to the Taipei Times, it was named after the Formosan clouded leopard, an indigenous animal, to show that the vehicle is "agile and swift".[5]

Development

Production started in 2007, with an initial order for 600 units. It is estimated that up to 1,400 CM32s may end up being in operational service.[6]

The Delco LAV-25 turret was tested on the first two prototypes but was not adopted on ground of cost and marginal firepower advantage compared to foreign vehicles; instead an indigenous turret armed with a 20 mm T75 revolver cannon was planned in the interest of getting the IFV into service as quickly as possible, and a prototype was demonstrated in 2009. It was hoped that any deficiency in terms of firepower can be alleviated by adopting the cannon to use the Mk 244 Mod 0 APDS ammunition already being ordered by the Republic of China Navy alongside the Phalanx Block 1B weapon systems, but issues with barrel life proved insurmountable, and in the meantime the 30 mm Bushmaster II chaingun was ultimately chosen instead and will be acquired from Orbital ATK.[7] A prototype turret built on this definitive requirement was spotted in May 2015 and unveiled to the public in August 2017.[8]

In 2019 the Ministry of National Defense announced that over the course of the development process 17 shortcomings with the system had been identified and corrected.[9] Shortcomings identified included flaws in the types steel armor, oil leaks, and a lack of interchangeable spare parts.[10] It was discovered that the vehicles had to cover at least 5 km every two weeks to remain in optimal condition.[9]

Design

CM32 APC ver.

The project was launched in 2002, at a cost of NT$700 million (US$21.9 million).[5]

The armor of the CM32 provides protection of 7.62 mm AP rounds, while the frontal arc withstands 12.7 mm AP rounds. NBC protection and fire suppression systems are also standard. The V-shaped hull provides protection from landmines and can withstand 12 kg of TNT under any wheel. In its basic APC form the CM32 is armed with a 40 mm automatic grenade launcher and a 7.62 mm co-axial machinegun, both mounted in a remote weapons station.[4]

Production and service history

CM32 assembly line at the Ordnance Readiness Development Center

In 2012 Chung-Hsin Electric and Machinery Manufacturing Corp. (CHEM) was awarded the contract for chassis production. CHEM violated their contract by allegedly substituting a number of poor quality Chinese parts in to save money. This affected the first 326 chassis.[11] CHEM's chairman, president, vice president and other officials were found guilty and sentenced to jail time over the scandal in 2021.[11]

Performance records from 2008 to 2018 indicate an engine lifespan of 780,000 km.[9] The type is a regular participant in the Han Kuang Exercises.[12]

Variants

In addition to the infantry carriers, other planned variants include command vehicle, NBC reconnaissance vehicle, mortar carrier (can be configured with either an 81 mm or 120 mm mortar), and assault gun (armed with a 105 mm rifled gun).[13] The Ministry of National Defense is exploring a 155mm self-propelled howitzer based on the CM32.[14]

CM31

The CM31 is the 6x6 vehicle prototype in 1992,[15] the design was helped by Timoney Technology Limited of Ireland. However, it was not accepted by the ROC army after testing.[4]

CM32

Command vehicle, same armament as CM33. In service as of 2014.[16]

CM33

CM32 and CM33 remote weapon station have 40 mm grenade launcher and 7.62mm machine gun mounted

Base variant, with 40 mm grenade launcher and 7.62mm machine gun mounted in a remote weapon station. In service as of 2014.[16] A total of 378 CM32 and CM33 have been produced.[1]

CM34

Four prototype vehicles passed primary pre-mass production testing in October 2014.[17]

The CM34 participated, alongside the CM32, in the 35th annual Han Kuang Exercise armed with a Mk44 Bushmaster II.[12] The Taiwanese military expects to produce 284 CM34s.[18] It is in service as of 2019.[19] In August 2020, 21 more vehicles were ordered for the Taiwanese military police.[20]

Taiwanese ceramics manufacturer HCG (和成欣業) will supply the vehicle's ceramic external armor.[21]

Cloud Leopard II M2 prototype

Taiwan's Ministry of National Defense (MND) exhibited a prototype of the next-generation 8×8 Cloud Leopard II armored vehicle development in public for the first time at the 2019 Taipei Aerospace & Defense Technology Exhibition.[22] It is expected that the prototype will be able to configurate into a mortar carrier platform, a self-propelled howitzer and a fire support platform with a 105 mm gun, similar to U.S Army's M1128 mobile gun system.

Prototypes

Production and testing

In operation

See also

Comparable vehicles

References

  1. "Government orders 284 new chain-gun Clouded Leopards". Taipei Times. June 3, 2018.
  2. Oryx (March 26, 2023). "Fortress Taiwan: Listing AFVs In Service With The Republic Of China". Copyright. Retrieved 2023-04-26.
  3. CM34 30鍊砲裝步戰門車（雲豹八輪甲車）. 竹坑營區辦理. 11 April 2024. Archived from the original on 2026-05-10. Retrieved 9 May 2026.
  4. "Defence & Security Intelligence & Analysis - IHS Jane's 360". Janes.com. Archived from the original on 2007-08-15.
  5. "Thumbs-up for new armoured vehicle". Taipei Times. January 12, 2005. Retrieved June 4, 2007.
  6. "Taiwan To Begin Mass Producing Armoured Vehicles: Jane's". SpaceWar.com. Retrieved April 18, 2017.
  7. Yeo, Mike (2 October 2017). "Taiwan to acquire Orbital ATK cannons for local vehicle program". Defense News. Melbourne. Archived from the original on 20 June 2026. Retrieved 3 October 2017.
  8. "Locally made armored vehicles to defend cities in Taiwan". asiatimes.com. Retrieved 17 January 2022.
  9. Strong, Matthew (4 January 2019). "Problems with Clouded Leopard vehicle resolved: Taiwan military". www.taiwannews.com.tw. Taiwan News. Retrieved 16 July 2019.
  10. de Silva, Richard (5 October 2011). "Taiwan's Leopard IFV sees no need to change its spots". www.defenceiq.com. Defense IQ. Retrieved 16 July 2019.
  11. Li-yen, Chao; Hsin-Yin, Lee (20 October 2021). "CHEM officials receive jail terms for armoured vehicle procurement fraud". Focus Taiwan. focustaiwan.tw.
  12. Everington, Keoni (30 May 2019). "Taiwan's army repulses simulated Chinese beach assault". www.taiwannews.com.tw. Taiwan News. Retrieved 16 July 2019.
  13. Evelyn Kao, Matt Yu and (8 April 2019). "Taiwan set to develop two indigenous armoured vehicles by end 2023". focustaiwan.tw. Focus Taiwan. Retrieved 16 July 2019.
  14. "Taiwan thinks converting CM32 APC to howitzers 80706171". www.armyrecognition.com. Army Recognition. 7 June 2017. Retrieved 16 July 2019.
  15. "CM31六輪裝甲車" (in Chinese (Taiwan)). 國家文化記憶庫. Retrieved 15 December 2025.
  16. "2014全民國防湖口基地開放 ROC ARMY Taiwan Infantry Fighting Vehicle, TIFV 國造雲豹八輪裝甲車分列式". YouTube. 29 March 2014.
  17. Phipps, Gavin. "Taiwan to begin series production of IFV variant of Cloud Leopard". www.janes.com. Janes. Archived from the original on 2018-10-31. Retrieved 16 July 2019.
  18. Staff Writer (25 October 2018). "Armoured vehicles pass tests, to start mass production". www.taipeitimes.com. Taipei Times. Retrieved 16 July 2019.
  19. "Major weapon systems used in anti-landing drill in Pingtung County". Focus Taiwan. 30 May 2019.
  20. "Military police to get CM-34 armoured vehicles - Focus Taiwan". 25 August 2020.
  21. Strong, Matthew (12 January 2021). "Taiwan's military orders armour for its vehicles from bathroom brand HCG". www.taiwannews.com.tw. Taiwan News. Retrieved 27 January 2021.
  22. "Taiwan's Cloud Leopard II M2 prototype breaks cover". Janes. 2019-08-14. Archived from the original on 2020-09-29. Retrieved 2024-01-13.

Sources