2021/07/31
The Ministry of National Defense issued a press release regarding the media report that "the military has been working on 105mm wheeled-tanks, but the Audit Office revealed that 120mm was actually the first choice." (July 31, 2021)
Press release by the Ministry of National Defense (MND)
Time: July 31, 2021 at 13:35
In response to media reports that "the military has been working on 105mm wheeled-tanks, but the Audit Office revealed that 120mm was actually the first choice," the Armament Bureau of the MDN Ministry explained today (31) as follows:
- 105mm-caliber artillery remains the mainstream of wheeled-tanks in active service around the world, while 120mm-caliber wheeled-tanks are still in the engineering development stage and have not yet been mass-produced. In view of assessment regarding both domestic and foreign technological maturity, such a weapon system is thus considered not suitable to be put into research and development at this time.
- The Production and Manufacturing Center of the Armaments Bureau plans to develop 105mm-caliber wheeled-tanks, developed based on the functions and specifications of the Army’s combat requirements. From such designs, the tank can exert striking power and mobility, as well as formulate the ground firepower that complements main tanks, thus carrying out the mission of homeland defense operations.
- Of issues inspected and checked by the Audit Office, the MND already delivered the clarified information to the Audit Office in an official letter for elaboration on June 1, 2021.
105mm wheeled-tanks are an important research and development project of the MDN, and we call on Taiwan nationals to persistently support the autonomy of national defense in order to meet the goals of military build-up and war preparations.