Taiwan outlines land systems priorities

Taiwan has included funding for the procurement of additional CM-34 IFVs in its 2023 budget. (National Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology)

Taiwan has included funding for several high-profile land systems in its defence budget for 2023.

Platforms to receive funding in the budget include the CM-34 wheeled infantry fighting vehicle (IFV), a new 120 mm Mobile Mortar System (MMS), a new four-wheeled tactical reconnaissance vehicle, and a new Cloud Leopard vehicle fitted with a 105 mm gun.

Budgetary documents for 2023 recently issued by the government disclosed that funding for the CM-34 programme will receive TWD61.14 billion (USD198 million) from 2019 to 2023, with about TWD5 billion allocated in 2023.

Taiwan's Armaments Bureau confirmed in June 2022 that the Republic of China Army (RoCA) had ordered 305 CM-34s, with 173 delivered since 2019. Deliveries of the CM-34 are expected to be completed by 2023.

The budgetary document also showed that TWD459 million has been allocated to procure the 120 mm MMS from 2023 to 2025.

Janes has previously reported that the MMS – developed by the Material Production Center's 202nd Arsenal – features a semi-automatic muzzle-loading system and enables troops to load 120 mm mortar bombs that can weigh as much as 15 kg, by placing a round into the feeding module.

The development of the 8×8 Cloud Leopard with a 105 mm gun was allocated TWD48.88 million in 2023. Development of the system started in 2020, with prototypes expected to be completed by 2023.