The Clouded Leopard Eight-Wheeled Armored Vehicle (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 (ROCA). It is based on the 6x6 CM31 designed by Timoney Technology Limited of Ireland and is further developed by the Ordnance Readiness Development Center of the ROCA.

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".

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.

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 20mm 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 30mm Bushmaster II chaingun was ultimately chosen instead and will be acquired from Orbital ATK. A prototype turret built on this definitive requirement was spotted in May 2015 and unveiled to the public in August 2017.

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. Shortcomings identified included flaws in the types steel armor, oil leaks, and a lack of interchangeable spare parts. It was discovered that the vehicles had to cover at least 5km every two weeks to remain in optimal condition.

Design

CM32 APC ver.

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

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

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. CHEM's chairman, president, vice president and other officials were found guilty and sentenced to jail time over the scandal in 2021.

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

Variants

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

CM31

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

CM32

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

CM33

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

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

CM34

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

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

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

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. 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.[citation needed]

Gallery

Prototypes

  • CM31 Prototype
  • CM31 Anti-Aircraft Missiles Launcher Prototype
  • CM31
  • Cloud Leopard P0 prototype
  • Cloud Leopard P1 prototype with 105mm tank gun
  • Cloud Leopard P2 prototype with M242 Bushmaster
  • TADTE 2015, Cloud Leopard II M2 prototype with 81mm mortar Prototype
  • Cloud Leopard II D2 prototype with 105mm tank gun, 2024
  • Cloud Leopard II D3 prototype with 105mm tank gun, 2025 Taipei Aerospace & Defense Technology Exhibition

Production and testing

  • CM32 firing smoke grenades during testing
  • CM32 on the 40mm grenade range during testing
  • Completed CM34s at the factory

In operation

  • CM34 with 30 mm cannon and modular ceramic armor
  • 110th National Day, CM34 with 30 mm cannon exhibit
  • CM32 participating in an exerscise
  • Military troops exiting Armored Personnel Carrier vehicles
  • Yunpao APCs Parading through Reviewing Stand
  • Queue of Visitors Waiting for aboard CM32 Yunpao APC at Gangshan Air Force Base
  • Turret control
  • Soldiers in the back of a CM32
  • Machine gunner in the back of a CM32

See also

Comparable vehicles

Sources

External links

  • Media related toCM32 Clouded Leopardat Wikimedia Commons
  • NCSIST videos: