The CM-32 "Clouded Leopard" (), officially Taiwan Infantry Fighting Vehicle (TIFV), is an eight-wheeled armoured vehicle currently being produced for the

Republic of China Army The Republic of China Army (ROCA), previously known as the Chinese Nationalist Army or Nationalist Revolutionary Army and unofficially as the Taiwanese Army, is the largest branch of the Republic of China Armed Forces. An estimated 80% of the ...

. It is based on the 6x6 CM-31 designed by the relatively unknown Timoney Technology Limited of Ireland and is further developed by the Ordnance Readiness Development Center. 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 CM-32s 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 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 The Republic of China Navy (ROCN; ), also called the ROC Navy and colloquially the Taiwan Navy, is the maritime branch of the Republic of China Armed Forces (ROCAF). The service was formerly commonly just called the Chinese Navy during World Wa ...

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 Northrop Grumman Innovation Systems (NGIS) was a sector (business segment) of Northrop Grumman from 2018 through 2019. It was formed from Orbital ATK Inc. a company which resulted from the merger of Orbital Sciences Corporation and parts of Alli ...

. 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 5 km every two weeks to remain in optimal condition.

Design

The project was launched in 2002, at a cost of NT$700 million (US$21.9 million). The armor of the CM-32 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 CM-32 is armed with a 40 mm automatic grenade launcher and a 7.62 mm co-axial machinegun, both mounted in a remote weapons station.

Production and service history

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 780,000 km. The type is a regular participant in the

Han Kuang Exercise The Han Kuang Exercise () is the annual military exercise of the Republic of China Armed Forces in Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen and Matsu for combat readiness in the event of an attack from the People's Liberation Army of the People's Republic of Chin ...

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). The Ministry of National Defense is exploring a 155mm

self-propelled howitzer Self-propelled artillery (also called locomotive artillery) is artillery equipped with its own propulsion system to move toward its firing position. Within the terminology are the self-propelled gun, self-propelled howitzer, self-propelled mo ...

based on the CM-32.

CM-31

The CM-31 is the original 6x6 designed by Timoney Technology Limited of Ireland, it was never mass-produced.

CM-32

Command vehicle, same armament as CM-33. In service as of 2014.

CM-33

Base variant, with 40mm grenade launcher and 7.62mm machine gun mounted in a

remote weapon station A remote controlled weapon station (RCWS), or remote weapon station (RWS), also known as a remote weapon system (RWS), is a remotely operated weaponized system often equipped with fire-control system for light and medium- caliber weapons which c ...

. In service as of 2014. A total of 378 CM-32 and CM-33 have been produced.

CM-34

Four prototype vehicles passed primary pre-mass production testing in October 2014. The CM-34 participated, alongside the CM-32, in the 35th annual Han Kuang Exercise armed with a

Mk44 Bushmaster II The Mk44 Bushmaster II is a 30 mm chain gun manufactured by Northrop Grumman. It is a derivative of the 25 mm M242 Bushmaster, and uses 70% of the same parts as the M242 while increasing the firepower by as much as 50% with the 20% increase ...

. The Taiwanese military expects to produce 284 CM-34s. 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 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 armoured 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 platform, a self-propelled howitzer and a Mobile Gun System(105mm gun).

Gallery

File:CM-31 APC Prototype in ORDC 20121013b.jpg, CM-31 Prototype File:CM-31 Anti-Aircraft Missiles Launcher Prototype Right Side View 20121013a.jpg, CM-31 Anti-Aircraft Missiles Launcher Prototype File:TaiwaneseCM31APC2.jpg, CM31 File:TADTE 2015 Preview, CM-32 Yunpao with 81mm Mortar 20150811b.jpg, TADTE 2015, CM-32 Yunpao with 81mm Mortar File:馬英九總統視導CM-34 30公厘機砲裝步戰鬥車.jpg, CM-34 with 30mm cannon File:中華民國110年國慶大會中展出之CM-34裝步戰鬥車.jpg, 110th National Day,CM-34 with 30mm cannon exhibit

References

Sources

Jane's Information Group article: "CM-32 enters pre-production phase in Taiwan”

* ttp://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/ground/m2.htm "Comparative Levels of Ballistic Protection" on Armoured Fighting Vehicles - Globalsecurity
MND denies armor on carrier vehicles is defective - Taipei Times. March 21, 2012

‘Clouded Leopard’ delivery delayed until 2019 - Taipei Times. December 27, 2012

About 60 detained in military probe - Taipei Times. June 12, 2015

Thirty-three indicted in military procurement case - Taipei Times. October 9, 2015

The Modern Battle Tanks Of Asia - Monitoring the 21st Century Asian Arms Race

The Eight By Eight APCs Transforming Modern War - Monitoring the 21st Century Asian Arms Race

Taiwan's military-industrial complex dominates at arms show

External links

* * NCSIST videos
雲豹甲車A05 八觀全景系統 2016 0927
{{DEFAULTSORT:Cm-32 Armoured Vehicle Armoured fighting vehicles of the post–Cold War period Armoured fighting vehicles of the Republic of China Military vehicles introduced in the 2000s Eight-wheeled vehicles