The Republic of China Army has allocated NT$57.07 billion ($1.7 billion) in its 2027 defense budget to procure 178 domestically produced Cheetah 105mm wheeled armored vehicles.
The acquisition is scheduled to run from 2027 through 2033, beginning with an initial batch of eight platforms next year. Deliveries are expected to increase annually as Taiwan replaces its decommissioned M41D light tanks, previously deployed across the country’s outlying islands and the eastern Hualien-Taitung region.
The announcement follows the successful evaluation of the Cheetah’s final prototype last year.
Cheetah Armored Vehicle
Co-developed by Taiwan’s Armaments Bureau and the National Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology, the Cheetah is an 8×8 armored platform designed for mobility and firepower.
The vehicle features a lowered 2.9-meter (9.5-foot) profile, a top speed of 100 kilometers (62 miles) per hour, and an operational range of 500 kilometers (311 miles).
Its armament includes a 105mm rifled cannon, a 12.7mm remote weapon station, a 7.62mm coaxial machine gun, and a 12-barrel smoke grenade launcher.
A dual-axis stabilized turret enables firing on the move, while an integrated “hunter-killer” target acquisition system provides capabilities comparable to those found on the M1A2T Abrams main battle tank.
The Cheetah is reported to be capable of penetrating 500 millimeters (20 inches) of steel armor at 2,000 meters (6,562 feet).
Additional features include a 60-percent tilt limit, 45-centimeter (18-inch) obstacle clearance, and a 70-centimeter (28-inch) water-fording depth.
More Ground Systems Expected
The Cheetah program forms part of Taiwan’s broader force modernization effort amid growing pressure from Beijing.
Taipei’s defense budget also allocates NT$10.7 billion ($337.2 million) for 4,647 light tactical vehicles and NT$79.5 billion ($2.5 billion) to replace CM21 armored personnel carriers with 410 wheeled combat variants equipped with 30mm and 40mm weapons.
