Taiwanese Military Unveils New Equipment at Defense Trade Show

A handful of new indigenous defense articles have been unveiled at this year’s Taipei Aerospace & Defense Technology Exhibition.

Among the new items featured at the 2017 Taipei Aerospace & Defense Technology Exhibition (TADTE) are the M1 Cloud Leopard II armored fighting vehicle developed by the Ordnance Readiness Development Center in Nantou, an anti-radiation drone developed by the National Chung Shan Institute of Science and Technology (NCSIST), and the TC-2 short-range tactical air defense system, also developed by NCSIST.

A modular vehicle platform suitable for a variety of weapons configurations — including a 12.7mm machine gun, 120mm mortar, 105mm low-recoil turret gun or 120mm gun — the highly mobile Cloud Leopard II can serve as an armoured personnel carrier (APC), infantry fighting vehicle, fire support vehicle, as well as command and control (C2) vehicle or ambulance.

M1 Cloud Leopard II armored fighting vehicle (Photo: J. Michael Cole)

Somewhat similar in design to the Israeli-made IAI Harop, NCSIST’s anti-radiation drone is one of the standouts at TADTE 2017. Anti-radiation drones are designed to target enemy radar and air-defense systems in a first line of attack. Rather than use a high-explosive warhead, the drone’s main body serves as the main munition. Powered by a rotor engine, the drone can reportedly loiter for approximately 100 hours with a top speed of 185 kph. Little more information was made available.

Anti-radiation drone developed by the NCSIST (Photo: J. Michael Cole)

The road-mobile TC-2 tactical air defense system can target all types of aerial platforms at low and medium altitudes.

The four-launch tube TC-2 tactical air defense system developed by NCSIST (J. Michael Cole)

Models of the Indigenous Defense Submarine and a high-speed minelayer are also on display at the show.

Approximately 140 exhibitors from Taiwan and abroad are taking part in the three-day event at the World Trade Center in Taipei. Sponsored by the Ministry of National Defense and the Ministry of Economic Affairs, TADTE is held every two years.