Photo for illustrative purposes only / CNA file photo

Taipei, April 8 (CNA) Taiwan plans to build two new models of the Clouded Leopard eight-wheeled armored vehicle mounted with a 105-mm assault gun by the end of 2023, an official from the Armaments Bureau said Monday.

The bureau under the Ministry of National Defense has commissioned the indigenous CM-32 and CM-33 Clouded Leopard armored vehicles, officially called the Taiwan Infantry Fighting Vehicle (TIFV), and has already begun mass production of the CM-34 model, according to the official.

The military is also developing prototypes of the vehicles, one equipped with an 81-mm mortar and the other with a 105-mm assault gun.

The production of the vehicle model with a 105-mm assault gun is scheduled to be completed by 2023, the official said.

The 105-mm gun is modeled on that of the CM-11 Brave Tiger main battle tank, according to the official.

(By Matt Yu and Evelyn Kao)
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