Taiwan to mass produce D3 vehicle from 2027

The D3 is seen displayed at TADTE 2025. (Janes/Akhil Kadidal)

Taiwan's latest 8x8 105 mm direct fire support vehicle, dubbed D3 by the Ministry of National Defence (MND), has completed Republic of China Army (RoCA) evaluations and is scheduled to enter mass production from 2027, state-owned Central News Agency (CNA) reported on 25 May.

Citing an official from Taiwan's Armaments Bureau, CNA reported that the D3 prototype features modifications including a reduced height of less than 3 m. The changes were introduced following RoCA feedback that the earlier D1 and D2 prototypes were too tall, at 3.3 m, and required turret refinements.

According to CNA, the reduced height has resulted in a reconfigured hull and internal layout, with 16 rounds in the turret and 17 stowed in the hull. The vehicle also features all-weather sensors capable of detecting vehicles at 2.5 km and personnel at 1.5 km, a dual-axis stabilised gun able to fire on the move and penetrate 500 mm of armour at 2 km, and a ‘hunter-killer' system to accelerate engagements and improve lethality.

CNA said the D3 has a top speed of 100 km/h and an operational range of 500 km. It can ford to a depth of 70 cm, climb gradients of 60%, and clear obstacles of 45 cm. It is armed with a 105 mm rifled gun, a 12.7 mm remote-control weapon station (RCWS), 7.62 mm coaxial machine gun, smoke grenade launchers, and an electro-optical reconnaissance system.

The D3, developed by the Armaments Bureau, was officially unveiled at Taipei Aerospace & Defense Technology Exhibition (TADTE) held in Taipei in September 2025. At the time, an RoCA officer told Janes