TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Taiwan’s military plans to mass-produce 246 newly developed scout vehicles between 2028 and 2033.
Under the “Iron Cavalry Project,” the Armaments Bureau is developing a scout vehicle based on operational requirements proposed by the Army, according to Liberty Times. The vehicle’s overall design and system integration are being handled by the Armaments Bureau’s Production and Manufacturing Center.
The Industrial Technology Research Institute is assisting with systems including the powertrain, transmission, steering, braking, and central tire inflation. The National Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology is in charge of developing the vehicle’s electro-optical reconnaissance system, per Liberty Times.
The vehicle features four-wheel drive and is powered by a 205-horsepower engine. It has a top speed of 100 kph and a cruising range of about 500 km.
It also has a mast-mounted, elevating electro-optical reconnaissance system with a maximum detection range of up to 12 km, Liberty Times said. The vehicle is equipped with a 12.7 mm remote weapon station that can fire accurately while moving.
The Ministry of National Defense has emphasized that the vehicle is not intended to replace the Humvee fleet. The vehicles will instead be assigned to reconnaissance units for missions such as ground surveillance, security, and counterattack operations, the ministry said.
