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Military said to be eying armored combat vehicle

Taiwan's military is eyeing the purchase of a US-made, light armored vehicle to transport its combat troops and is examining it this week at secret demonstrations at bases around the nation, an executive at a foreign defense firm said.

An executive from US-based General Motors Defense told the Taipei Times that besides the army, the nation's marines and airforce were interested in GM's eight-wheeled Light Armored Vehicle GMneration Three.

"The next GMneration of infantry fighting vehicles which [Taiwan] is currently pursuing is planned to be a wheeled vehicle," the source said in reference to the tracked vehicles Taiwan currently uses.

While the Marines are looking to it for greater mobility and speed, the airforce is hoping to beef up defense of its air bases, particularly as talk of opening direct air links between China and Taiwan heats up, said the executive.

The armored vehicle's top speed on land is around 110kmph. It has amphibious capability and a 105mm gun can be mounted atop the platform, making it a good choice for commanders looking for flexibility when faced with ejecting hostile forces from Taiwan's shores, he said.

"If a beachhead insurgence was made in the south, say in Kaohsiung, they could send Light Armored Vehicles down there because they can move them quickly without chopping up the roads," said the executive. If commanders wanted to move them another 20km down the beach, the amphibious vehicle could either travel on the road or "swim" over the water.

"It will essentially replace their CM-21s, which are the tracked armored personnel carriers," he said.

Taiwan already fields a six-wheeled light armored vehicle, the CM-31 as well as the tracked, US-made M113 armored personnel carrier.

While espousing the benefits of GM's Light Armored Vehicle, the executive admitted that Taiwan's Marines were still likely to purchase the latest in-service version of the M113, which holds up to 11 men and is employed principally as a ship-to-shore landing vehicle.

The executive said that there is space for both vehicles in Taiwan's armory because the two have different mission roles.

The Light Armored Vehicle, which carries a price tag of around US$1.1 million and holds three crew and seven troops, is being put to the test at undisclosed locations in Hsinchu and Kaohsiung throughout this week, the executive said.

GM Defense is looking to break into the local market with the vehicle, which it has been plugging to the military for around four years, he said, adding that the firm paid around US$70,000 to have a working model flown in for exhibition at last week's Taipei Aerospace and Technology Exhibition and for the demonstrations.
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