First tranche of CM-34 Cloud Leopard IFV for delivery to Taiwan soon

The CM-34 Cloud Leopard IFV. Photo c/o Army Recognition.

The Republic of China Army (RoCA) is expected to receive the first batch of 32 units of the CM-34 Cloud Leopard infantry fighting vehicle (IFV) soon, officials confirmed during the Taipei Aerospace & Defense Technology Exhibition (TADTE) 2019 held last 15 to 17 August 2019.

The vehicles are built by the Taiwanese Ministry of National Defense (MND) Materiel Production Center (MPC), and designed by Ireland’s Timoney Technology Limited.

A total of 284 CM-34 IFVs were ordered by the RoCA, which will be delivered in several tranches over a few years.

The vehicle passed pre-mass production tests on October 2018, although minor adjustments have been made to fulfil secondary requirements.

The vehicles are based on the CM-32 Cloud Leopard 8x8 armored personnel carrier, and are armed with an Orbital ATK Mk. 44 Bushmaster 30mm autocannon, mounted on a two-man turret. Secondary weapons include a 7.62mm co-axial machine gun, and a roof-mounted T74 7.62mm machine gun, plus six smoke grenade launchers on the turret sides.

Compared to the standard CM-32 armored personnel carrier, the CM-34 weighs 2 tons more at 24 tons, and its engine output increased from 410hp to 450hp to compensate the added weight.


[1] Jane’s International Defence Review
[2] Army Recognition