DEFENSE/Taiwan unveils 2 indigenously developed drones, tank

Taipei, Aug. 14 (CNA) Taiwan's military on Thursday unveiled two newly developed drones and a wheeled tank with a 105 mm gun in a video posted on the website of the Military News Agency, highlighting the country's progress in indigenous defense technology.

The two unmanned aerial vehicles -- a bomb-dropping model and a fixed-wing loitering munition -- were jointly developed by the Armaments Bureau's 202nd Plant and private industry, according to the agency.

Both systems are designed for asymmetric warfare, with an emphasis on rapid assembly, mass production, cost-effectiveness and operational efficiency, the agency said.

The bomb-dropping drone uses a multirotor platform to carry larger munitions, allowing it to hover and release explosives over a target, while the loitering munition is launched via catapult and detonates on impact, offering long-range strike capability, it said.

Video footage showed the loitering munition speeding toward a maritime target and destroying it, while the bomb-dropping drone, equipped with what appeared to be external fuel tanks for extended range, released its payload over a designated area.

Colonel Liao (廖), who was involved in the research and development of the drones, said the versatility and stealthiness of drones make combined reconnaissance and strike capabilities the mainstream development trend.

All newly developed UAVs have passed full-system verification and will undergo phased upgrades to meet evolving tactical requirements, he said.

Also unveiled was the D3 prototype of the wheeled tank, jointly developed by the Armaments Bureau and the state-run weapons developer National Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology (NCSIST).

Featuring a 105 mm low-recoil tank gun with over 2 km effective range and the ability to penetrate 500 mm of armor, the vehicle's design improvements over earlier models include reduced height and a refined turret, according to the agency.

The D3's exterior is produced by the Armaments Bureau, while its turret is developed by NCSIST, it said.

It cost NT$290 million (US$9.67 million), the agency added.

The vehicle is capable of withstanding 30 mm armor-piercing rounds, reaches speeds of up to 100 kph, and has a cruising range of 500 km, enabling rapid redeployment through Taiwan's existing road network, the agency said.

It features an electrically controlled turret drive that enhances firing precision, and incorporates a hunter-killer capability similar to that of the M1A2T main battle tank, allowing commanders to identify new targets while the gunner engages another, significantly reducing engagement time, it said.

The program also offered a glimpse of a tactical reconnaissance wheeled vehicle undergoing tests.

Capable of negotiating steep slopes, vertical obstacles, and water crossings, it is equipped with a 12.7 mm remote-controlled weapon station, smoke grenade launchers, and an electro-optical reconnaissance system.

The platform is designed to support ground search, security, and cover missions in diverse operational scenarios, the agency said.