Greenlight for production of Taiwan’s improved Cloud Leopard
The Cloud Leopard II weighs 24 tonnes. (Photo: Taiwan Military News Agency)
A total of 15 modifications and upgrades will be made to the original Cloud Leopard platform to enhance its combat performance based on feedback from military operators.
Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense (MND) has submitted a report to the nation’s lawmakers stating that the next generation Cloud Leopard II APC/IFV was cleared for production after testing and evaluation of prototypes.
Local media stated that the report noted the vehicle had passed initial combat readiness testing in October 2023, clearing the path for the vehicle to enter mass production.
Combat readiness testing will be the final part of five stages of evaluation which has included an initial conceptual design stage, an engineering development stage and initial weapon testing. The report does not note when production will begin.
The Cloud
Our news & analysis is now part of Defence Insight®
A Basic-level or higher Defence Insight subscription is now required to view this content.
More from Land Warfare
-
![“Timelines are measured in seconds”: tackling the UAS threat with dispersed defences]()
“Timelines are measured in seconds”: tackling the UAS threat with dispersed defences
Small uncrewed aerial systems (UAS) have transformed the battlespace, posing a complex threat across all domains. Militaries now need counter-UAS (CUAS) capabilities that defeat the danger while meeting demands around readiness, manoeuvrability and adaptability, according to Mike Spina, Director, Global Sales and Business Development for Targeting and Sensor Systems (TSS) at L3Harris Technologies.
-
![US Army’s future autonomous launcher nears next phase with awards expected in August]()
US Army’s future autonomous launcher nears next phase with awards expected in August
The Common Autonomous Multi-Domain Launcher (CAML) is the US Army’s main effort to provide an autonomous or optionally crewed missile launcher, with more details revealed at a CSIS webinar discussion this week.
-
![“No single technology is enough”: why an integrated approach to uncrewed warfare is essential]()
“No single technology is enough”: why an integrated approach to uncrewed warfare is essential
In Conversation… Ahmet Akyol, CEO of ASELSAN, talks to Shephard’s Gerrard Cowan about how the rapid evolution of uncrewed aerial systems (UAS) is transforming the battlespace, with militaries focused on both deploying these platforms to maximum effect and developing the defensive systems needed to counter them.
-
![Lasers heat up for counter-drone option as DroneLight tackles the big question]()
Lasers heat up for counter-drone option as DroneLight tackles the big question
Using lasers to defeat drones promises to solve the dilemma of using expensive kinetic effects to kill platforms worth a few hundred dollars. While maintaining thermal output to provide the effects can be a technical hurdle, Israel’s Esh-Tech is one company working on a solution.
-
![France’s artillery rocket competition aims for sovereign solution as contest enters decisive phase]()
France’s artillery rocket competition aims for sovereign solution as contest enters decisive phase
France’s requirement for a replacement MLRS is intended to provide the country with a sovereign capability to bolster the country’s strategic autonomy, with a final platform expected to be in service by 2030.
