The Taiwanese military will begin to integrate locally-produced 105-millimeter assault guns onto the country’s Clouded Leopard armored vehicles next month, a military source told news television channel CNA.
The upgraded weapon system reportedly has 60 percent less recoil than its previous version, and the ammunition has also been modified for improved target penetration.
Mounting the guns on the eight-wheeled troop carriers would increase infantry strength by providing greater firepower and rapid strike capabilities, making it an important weapon for Taiwanese ground assets.
The military will conduct a performance evaluation of the weapon system when installation is complete by March next year. It needs to pass a combat readiness test under the military’s five-step new-weapon development process before being certified for mass production.
In addition to assault gun-mounted Clouded Leopards, the Armament Bureau will commission the CM-34 version of the armored vehicle, which features an Orbital ATK 30mm Mk44 Bushmaster II cannon that can fire up to two kilometers (1.2 miles). It is currently under production.
