Freedom 1:35 CM-34 TICV ROCA Clouded Leopards Prototype

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The CM-32 “Clouded Leopard” (Chinese: ; pinyin: ynbo zhungjich; lit. ‘Cloud Leopard Armored Vehicle’), officially Taiwan Infantry Fighting Vehicle (TIFV), is an eight-wheeled armoured vehicle currently being produced for the Republic of China Army. It is based on the 6×6 CM-31 designed by Timoney Technology Limited of Ireland and is further developed by the Ordnance Readiness Development Center.

According to the Taipei Times, it was named after the Formosan clouded leopard, an indigenous animal, to show that the vehicle is “agile and swift”.

Production started in 2007, with an initial order for 600 units. It is estimated that up to 1,400 CM-32s may end up being in operational service.

The Delco LAV-25 turret was tested on the first two prototypes but was not adopted on ground of cost and marginal firepower advantage compared to foreign vehicles; instead an indigenous turret armed with a 20 mm T75 revolver cannon was planned in the interest of getting the IFV into service as quickly as possible, and a prototype was demonstrated in 2009. It was hoped that any deficiency in terms of firepower can be alleviated by adopting the cannon to use the Mk 244 Mod 0 APDS ammunition already being ordered by the Republic of China Navy alongside the Phalanx Block 1B weapon systems, but issues with barrel life proved insurmountable, and in the meantime the 30 mm Bushmaster II chaingun was ultimately chosen instead and will be acquired from Orbital ATK. A prototype turret built on this definitive requirement was spotted in May 2015 and unveiled to the public in August 2017.

In 2019 the Ministry of National Defense announced that over the course of the development process 17 shortcomings with the system had been identified and corrected. Shortcomings identified included flaws in the types steel armor, oil leaks, and a lack of interchangeable spare parts. It was discovered that the vehicles had to cover at least 5 km every two weeks to remain in optimal condition.