Taiwan's Clouded Leopard II 8x8 vehicle armed with 105mm gun ready for mass production.

As reported by the Taipei Times on March 31, 2024, Taiwan's Ministry of National Defense announced that the successor to the CM-32 Clouded Leopard, informally dubbed the Clouded Leopard II, has successfully completed its initial operational capability assessment in October 2023. This new vehicle, scheduled for mass production in 2024 and yet to be officially named, will include a new 8x8 chassis and a 105mm gun.
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In terms of armament, the Clouded Leopard II features significant upgrades, including a 105mm gun, a coaxial 7.62mm machine gun, and a remotely operated weapon station (RWS) with a 12.7mm machine gun. (Picture source: Taipei Times)

As detailed in a report to Taiwan's lawmakers, the future Clouded Leopard II successfully underwent initial combat readiness testing in October 2023. This testing was part of a broader evaluation framework that included stages such as conceptual design, engineering development, and weapon testing before the commencement of mass production, scheduled for 2024. The enhancements to the original Clouded Leopard I design are extensive, including a series of 15 modifications and upgrades based on operational feedback, each aimed at improving the vehicle's performance.

The Clouded Leopard II will introduce several design features aimed at improving its battlefield performance. One significant enhancement is the reduction in clearance, which lowers the vehicle's overall height to minimize visibility and enhance stealth. Additionally, the Clouded Leopard II will feature an increase in weight to 24 tonnes, with dimensions of 7.6 m in length, 3 m in width, and 2.4 m in height, resulting in a narrower build and a shorter turning radius, thereby enhancing agility, particularly in urban combat environments. Despite these changes, the Clouded Leopard II maintains the same Caterpillar C9 engine, albeit with a power increase from 450hp to 600hp, enabling the vehicle to achieve speeds of up to 100 km/h.

In terms of armament, the Clouded Leopard II features significant upgrades, including a 105mm gun, a coaxial 7.62mm machine gun, and a remotely operated weapon station (RWS) with a 12.7mm machine gun. The Clouded Leopard II also introduces design alterations intended to enhance crew safety and survivability. For instance, the vehicle features manually operated doors in place of the rear hydraulic ramp, offering increased protection and reducing the risk of entrapment from hydraulic failures. Moreover, the vehicle incorporates augmented protection measures against small-caliber munitions, 12.7mm rounds, and RPGs, alongside improved situational awareness facilitated by LED headlights and 16 exterior EO/IR cameras for all-round vision.

The Taiwanese Army's combined arms brigades are expected to be the first recipients of the Clouded Leopard II. Additionally, plans are underway to adopt the advanced chassis design across all Clouded Leopard models, aimed at enhancing operational efficiency and standardizing parts across the fleet. Furthermore, efforts are being made to deploy the Clouded Leopard II to Taiwan's outlying islands, where it will replace older M41D Walker Bulldogs and CM21 armored personnel carriers.

While the Marine Corps has expressed interest in the Clouded Leopard II as a potential replacement for its M60A3 Patton tanks, a preference has been indicated for an 81mm mortar carrier based on the Humvee platform. This decision aligns with the Marine Corps' operational doctrine, which prioritizes mobility and rapid deployment.

The CM-32 Clouded Leopard armored vehicle was developed by Taiwan to meet the unique operational requirements dictated by the island's geographical features. The development phase commenced in the early 2000s, with prototype development occurring between 2002 and 2005, leading to its official service entry in 2011. The development was motivated by the military's need for a vehicle capable of rapid deployment and high survivability, resulting in the introduction of variants such as the CM-33 and the CM-34. These models utilize wheeled mobility to achieve greater road speed and lower maintenance needs, reflecting the infrastructural developments within Taiwan.

In terms of design, the armor of the CM-32 Clouded Leopard is made from high-tensile steel plates capable of resisting impacts from various calibers, with additional ceramic armor for enhanced ballistic protection. The armament options vary by variant, including the T91 40mm howitzer cannon or the Mk 44 Viper II 25mm chain gun, along with secondary weapons like the T74 7.62 machine gun. The vehicle runs on a Caterpillar diesel engine and features an 8x8 chassis. Digital control systems and dual power supply circuits are included to manage operational data and ensure functionality across different conditions.

Taiwan previously unveiled a prototype of the CM-32 Clouded Leopard already equipped with a 105mm gun. (Picture source: Wikimedia)