Taiwan MoD confirms prototypes of 8x8 combat vehicle armed with 105mm gun.

As reported by Ko Peng-hsin, of Military News Agency at Nantou, on March 16th, the 209 Factory of Production and Manufacturing Center of the Armament Bureau held a dynamic display and production line introduction of the CM34 wheeled armored vehicle with a 30mm chain-gun at Yuegang Camp that day. The exhibition demonstrated the advanced achievements of indigenous-made national defense equipment, namely a 105mm version of the CM34.
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Center: prototype of the 105mm variant of the CM34 (Picture source: Taiwan MoD)

The 209 Factory stated that the CM34 wheeled armored vehicle with a 30mm chain gun features mobility, protection and firepower. This vehicle was researched and manufactured by each factory of the Production and Manufacturing Center of the Armament Bureau as well as the National Chung Shan Institute of Science and Technology (NCSIST), and was officially put into mass production in 2018. The vehicle can travel at a maximum speed of 100 km/h. It can also resist 12.7 mm machine gun fire, and is equipped with external composite armor. Ever further, it is fitted with a nuclear, biological and chemical air-conditioning system.

The CM34 armored vehicle also features a 30 mm automatic cannon turret with a thermal imaging system that can perform combat missions around the clock. Furthermore, the vehicle is also equipped with crosswind sensors, and a gyroscope and global positioning system to greatly improve shooting accuracy, so that its effective range can reach 3,000 meters.

On March 6, 2023, in response to media reports about wheeled combat vehicles being put into production without a plan, the Ministry of National Defense (MND) explained what follows:

1. The Manufacturing Center of the Armaments Bureau is currently working on a 105mm-wheeled armor vehicle research project running from 2018 to 2023. During this period, two prototypes of vehicles are going to be developed. No mass production of such vehicles in 2023 is planned, nor has any instruction been given from top national security officials to commence mass production. What is being reported is therefore not true.

2. The 105mm-wheeled armor vehicle has already passed the Ramp; evaluation and meets the requirements of the Army. The shooting accuracy and stability of such vehicles have also been verified as above the required standards, and the initial operational test and evaluation (IOT) is scheduled for April to July this year
(2023).

3. Since the 105mm-wheel armor vehicle is a major achievement of indigenous national defense, the Center will work to manage new requirements from the Army and develop armor vehicles for mass production after passing IOT stage. The MND calls on the media to do their due diligence when covering reports to avoid misleading the public, as false reports are not conducive to the research and development of military armaments.

Defense News March 2023