The government is developing two new military vehicles as part of its policy to achieve self-sufficiency in defense.
The armed forces are developing a fighting vehicle based on the CM-32 Clouded Leopard armored vehicle, and a four-wheeled reconnaissance tactical vehicle to replace the outdated M113 armored carrier and multipurpose Humvee vehicle.
The Ministry of National Defense is to purchase the components for a first prototype of the reconnaissance tactical vehicle by June, integrate the systems by October and complete a development assessment by March next year, the ministry said in its latest report to the legislature.
Development assessments of three other prototypes are to be completed by March 2024 and a combat assessment is to be conducted by October that year, the report said, adding that more than 300 vehicles are to be produced if a satisfactory prototype is developed.
The ministry’s annual budget showed that the Armaments Bureau had allocated NT$560 million (US$19.5 million) from last year to 2024 to research and develop four vehicles for reconnaissance and battle duty.
In response to criticism that the budget is too high, the ministry said that the budget was cut to NT$490 million at the end of last year.
It is more reasonable than the US’ development of a Joint Light Tactical Vehicle, which included 43 prototypes at US$6.97 million apiece, the ministry added.
Except for the engine, the components for the reconnaissance tactical vehicle can be locally sourced, which represents a self-sufficiency rate of 89 percent, it said.
The tactical vehicle might eventually be developed for broader uses, such as a mortar carrier or a combat vehicle with missiles, it added.
The report said that a fighting vehicle with a 105mm gun is being developed based on the eight-wheeled Clouded Leopard, which was locally made.
An XT112 gun is also being developed by the Armaments Bureau’s No. 202 Artillery and Ammunition Plant and is to be produced in small batches for testing in June, it said.
A first prototype of the fighting vehicle is to pass a development assessment by June, with a second prototype to be constructed by the end of August and a complete development assessment finished by the end of December, the report said.
The two prototypes are to undergo a preliminary combat assessment by the end of October next year, it said, adding that the military plans to produce 282 vehicles from 2024 to 2036.
A preclearance service to facilitate entry for people traveling to select airports in Japan would be available from Thursday next week to Feb. 25 at Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport, Taoyuan International Airport Corp (TIAC) said on Tuesday. The service was first made available to Taiwanese travelers throughout the winter vacation of 2024 and during the Lunar New Year holiday. In addition to flights to the Japanese cities of Hakodate, Asahikawa, Akita, Sendai, Niigata, Okayama, Takamatsu, Kumamoto and Kagoshima, the service would be available to travelers to Kobe and Oita. The service can be accessed by passengers of 15 flight routes operated by
Chinese spouse and influencer Guan Guan’s (關關) residency permit has been revoked for repeatedly posting pro-China videos that threaten national security, the National Immigration Agency confirmed today. Guan Guan has said many controversial statements in her videos posted to Douyin (抖音), including “the red flag will soon be painted all over Taiwan” and “Taiwan is an inseparable part of China,” and expressing hope for expedited reunification. The agency last year received multiple reports alleging that Guan Guan had advocated for armed reunification. After verifying the reports, the agency last month issued a notice requiring her to appear and explain her actions. Guan
GIVE AND TAKE: Blood demand continues to rise each year, while fewer young donors are available due to the nation’s falling birthrate, a doctor said Blood donors can redeem points earned from donations to obtain limited edition Formosan black bear travel mugs, the Kaohsiung Blood Center said yesterday, as it announced a goal of stocking 20,000 units of blood prior to the Lunar New Year. The last month of the lunar year is National Blood Donation Month, when local centers seek to stockpile blood for use during the Lunar New Year holiday. The blood demand in southern Taiwan — including Tainan and Kaohsiung, as well as Chiayi, Pingtung, Penghu and Taitung counties — is about 2,000 units per day, the center said. The donation campaign aims to boost
The Central Weather Administration (CWA) said a magnitude 4.9 earthquake that struck off the coast of eastern Taiwan yesterday was an independent event and part of a stress-adjustment process. The earthquake occurred at 4:47pm, with its epicenter at sea about 45.4km south of Yilan County Hall at a depth of 5.9km, the CWA said. The quake's intensity, which gauges the actual effects of a temblor, was highest in several townships in Yilan and neighboring Hualien County, where it measured 4 on Taiwan's seven-tier intensity scale, the CWA said. Lin Po-yu (林柏佑), a division chief at the CWA's Seismological Center, told a news conference
RSS