TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The domestically produced CM-34 Clouded Leopard armored vehicle will receive a more powerful variant of the 30 mm MK-44 Bushmaster II cannon.
The vehicles currently use the first-generation MK-44 long-barrel cannon, which is not capable of firing airburst high-explosive ammunition, Liberty Times reported. The second-generation cannon, called the Mk-44 Air Burst Munition (ABM), includes programmable and timed firing functions.
Sources familiar with the matter revealed that once Taiwan’s military acquires MK-44 ABM systems, they will be installed on a new version of the CM-34, which is built on the second-generation Clouded Leopard chassis. The vehicle will likely be designated the CM-34A1, per Liberty Times.
The military plans to procure 468 reconnaissance tactical wheeled vehicles and 500 “Cheetah” armored vehicles beginning in 2028. The Cheetah is a new armored vehicle armed with a 105 mm low-recoil main gun, a 7.62 mm coaxial machine gun, and a 12.7 mm remotely controlled gun. The vehicle is expected to complete operational testing by the end of June.
