Taiwan tests indigenous Cheetah armored vehicle as China presses US on arms sales
Taiwan held live-fire exercises with its new Cheetah armored vehicle in Tainan, as its defense ministry vowed to continue arms procurement talks with the US amid Chinese pressure.
Taiwan's military conducted live-fire exercises on Wednesday featuring a domestically developed eight-wheeled armored vehicle at the Army's Artillery Training Center in Tainan, southern Taiwan. The drill took place ahead of a planned summit in the United States between President Donald Trump and China's Xi Jinping.
The Cheetah armored vehicle fired its 105-millimeter cannon from stationary positions, while moving, and on sloped terrain. According to the Army Command, the vehicle combines high mobility, firepower, digital fire-control systems, and armor protection, enabling ground forces to conduct rapid strikes and respond quickly across different terrains.
The demonstration came as Taiwan's defense ministry responded to reports that Xi is expected to urge Trump to halt arms sales to Taiwan during their meeting. Defense Ministry spokesperson Maj. Gen. Chiao Fu-chun said Taiwan would continue working with the United States on defense procurement.
"We will continue to maintain close contact with the U.S. Department of War and continue to push forward the arms procurement deal between Taiwan and the U.S., ensuring it proceeds as planned," Chiao said.
The Cheetah, co-developed by Taiwan's Armaments Bureau and the state-run National Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology, is an 8x8 wheeled armored vehicle designed for rapid deployment and maneuverability. It has a maximum speed of about 100 kph (62 mph) and an operational range of about 500 kilometers (311 miles). The vehicle is 2.9 meters (9.5 feet) high and is built to operate across Taiwan's varied terrain. The Army has said it can fire while moving and is equipped with a stabilized turret and digital fire-control system.
Its main armament is a 105mm rifled cannon, supplemented by a 12.7mm remotely controlled weapon station, a 7.62mm coaxial machine gun, and a 12-barrel smoke grenade launcher.
Maj. Gen. Chen Chien-chung of the Army said the vehicle was designed around the military's operational requirements and could be used in a range of environments, including urban combat.
"The 8-wheeled armored vehicle is designed according to the Army's operational needs and is suitable for various terrains. We may face urban warfare, and this type of armored vehicle can be used flexibly," Chen said.
Chen added that the Army has requested production of 178 Cheetah armored vehicles, with eight scheduled to enter production next year.
Taiwan's 2027 defense budget allocates about NT$57.07 billion ($1.8 billion) from 2027 through 2033 for 178 domestically produced 105mm wheeled armored vehicles. The procurement plan calls for eight vehicles in 2027, followed by annual deliveries ranging from 14 to 36 vehicles.
The Cheetahs are expected to strengthen the Army's mobile strike and rapid-reaction capabilities and replace some of its aging armored vehicles, including M41D light tanks deployed in Taiwan's outlying areas and eastern regions.