TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Development of the D3 infantry fighting vehicle (IFV) prototype vehicle is proceeding according to schedule, the Ministry of National Defense's Armaments Bureau stated in a press release on Saturday (Aug. 10). 

The Armaments Bureau and National Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology (NCSIST) have completed developing the prototype and initial operational evaluations, CNA reported. The goal is to improve the vehicle's shape and performance based on the Army's feedback.

The prototype is expected to be completed by the end of June next year. The military has allocated NT$170 million (US$5.25 million) for an improved turret, designed by the National Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology, and NT$120 million for the vehicle body, which the Armament Bureau will handle.

In June, the Armaments Bureau unveiled the latest prototype of its IFV, the D2. The D2 is based on the eight-wheeled Clouded Leopard armored vehicle but is armed with a 105 mm assault gun and features hunter-killer capabilities, similar to the U.S.-made Abrams tank.

It passed 91 tests last August as part of its initial operational evaluation and is still in the development phase, military officials said. They added that there were still areas to improve, including the vehicle’s height and the turret’s internal configuration.

The IFV’s gun can fire armor-piercing fin-stabilized discarding sabot rounds that can penetrate 500 mm thick steel plates from 2000 meters away. Ammunition can be shared since it has the same gun barrel diameter as Taiwan’s M60A3 and CM11 tanks.