The Armaments Bureau (Chinese: 國防部軍備局; pinyin: Guófángbù Jūnbèijú) is a affiliated authority of the Ministry of National Defense of Taiwan (formally known as the Republic of China).
| 國防部軍備局 Guófángbù Jūnbèijú | |
 | |
| Agency overview | |
|---|---|
| Formed | 1 March 2002 |
| Jurisdiction | Republic of China |
| Headquarters | Zhongshan District, Taipei 25°01′04″N 121°31′36″E / 25.017692°N 121.526789°E |
| Parent agency | Ministry of National Defense |
| Website | Armaments Bureau |
History
editWith the National Defense Law and revised Organization Law of the Ministry of National Defense went into effect on 1 March 2002, the Armaments Bureau was formulated according to the two laws.[1]
In 2014 the National Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology was made an administrative corporation by the government, ending its period of secrecy under the Armaments Bureau and opening up the opportunity to partner with foreign corporations and export equipment internationally.[2] In 2015 Lieutenant General Ho An-ch replaced the retiring Lieutenant General Chin Shou-feng as director of the Armaments Bureau.[3]
In 2020 the Armaments Bureau, along with a number of public and private partners, began developing a powered exoskeleton for military and disaster relief tasks.[4] The program was started because foreign military exoskeleton programs had not yet reached the export stage and as such Taiwan’s requests to procure military exoskeletons had been rebuffed. The program was allocated NT$250 million (US$8.3 million) for the 2020 fiscal year with serial production scheduled to begin in 2023.[5]
In 2023 the Armaments Bureau and in particular the 205th Arsenal were the subject of reform efforts by the Control Yuan. Multiple officers were impeached for problems related to corruption and inefficiency. The impeached officers had received favors and gifts from private contractors in return for preferential treatment procurement treatment. The Control Yuan ordered the implementation of improvements to internal oversight and evaluation procedures.[6]
Organizational structure
edit- Program Evaluation Division
- Technology and Industry Division
- Acquisition Management Division
- Procurement Management Division
- Construction and Real Estate Division
- Management Information Office
- General Administration Office
- Comptroller Office
Arsenals
editHeadquarters
editThe bureau headquarters is accessible within walking distance South West from Dazhi Station of the Taipei Metro.
209th Arsenal
editResponsible for development of CM-32 armoured vehicle.[7] Located in the Nantou County town of Jiji.[8]
205th Arsenal
editDevelopers and producers of the T75 pistol, T93 sniper rifle, T91 assault rifle and XT-97 Assault Rifle.[9] Also involved in quadcopter development and production. Based in Kaohsiung.[10]
The 205th Arsenal sells firearms components and ammunition on the American commercial market.[11]
T112 assault rifle
editThe T112 assault rifle is intended to replace the T91 in regular Taiwanese service.[12]
T108 sniper rifle
editMedium bolt action sniper rifle chambered in 7.62 NATO. First ordered in 2018. Intended to replace the T93 in regular service.[13]
T112 sniper rifle
editHeavy bolt action sniper rifle chambered in .50 BMG. 100 ordered by Taiwanese special forces.[12]
203rd Arsenal
editHas developed advanced camouflage materials for special forces use.[14]
202nd Arsenal
editThe 202nd Arsenal both designs and produces large[15] and small artillery.[16] They also manufacture munitions for artillery systems.[17]
See also
editReferences
edit
- ^ "中華民國國防部-全球資訊網-首頁".
- ^ Pocock, Chris. "Taiwan's Good Technical Offer Is Affected By Politics". AIN Online. Retrieved 7 June 2019.
- ^ "New head of MND Armaments Bureau appointed". www.taiwannews.com.tw. Taiwan News. Retrieved 3 December 2019.
- ^ Sharwood, Simon. "Taiwan to develop military exoskeleton because it's not like these things are open-sourced or one-size-fits-all". www.theregister.co.uk. The Register. Retrieved 15 April 2020.
- ^ Yu, Matt; Yeh, Joseph. "Taiwan developing military-use powered suit for production in 2023". focustaiwan.tw. Focus Taiwan. Retrieved 15 April 2020.
- ^ Yao-ju, Yang; Pan, Jason. "Control Yuan takes Armaments Bureau to task". taipeitimes.com. Taipei Times. Retrieved 19 February 2024.
- ^ Pan, Jason (12 June 2015). "About 60 detained in military probe". www.taipeitimes.com. Retrieved 28 August 2019.
- ^ Strong, Matthew. "Corruption suspected in Clouded Leopard deal". www.taiwannews.com.tw. Taiwan News. Retrieved 3 December 2019.
- ^ Matt Schrader, Ned Collins-Chase, David An. "Taiwan's Indigenous Defense Industry: Centralized Control of Abundant Suppliers" (PDF). globaltaiwan.org. Global Taiwan Institute. Archived from the original (PDF) on 21 June 2022. Retrieved 27 August 2019.
- ^ Wong, Kelvin. "Taiwan MND pursues multirotor UAV developments". www.janes.com. Janes. Retrieved 17 January 2020.
- ^ Fortier, David. "Wolf A1 Gas Piston AR-15 Upper Receiver Review". www.firearmsnews.com. Firearms News. Retrieved 31 December 2020.
- ^ a b Che-yu, Wu; Chin, Jonathan. "Military's new rifle has started mass production". taipeitimes.com. Taipei Times. Retrieved 12 April 2024.
- ^ Au, Charles. "Modernised small arms enter service in Taiwan". shephardmedia.com. Shephard Media. Retrieved 12 April 2024.
- ^ "Taiwan testing local-made military camouflage". www.taiwannews.com.tw. Taiwan News. Retrieved 28 August 2019.
- ^ "Taiwan's military-industrial complex dominates at arms show". taiwantoday.tw. Taiwan Today. 14 September 2007. Retrieved 28 August 2019.
- ^ Hou, Elaine. "Military reveals new locally developed mobile mortar system". Focus Taiwan. focustaiwan.tw. Retrieved 28 August 2019.
- ^ Yu, Matt; Lim, Emerson. "Taiwan military to produce anti-tank rounds for new armored vehicle". focustaiwan.tw. Focus Taiwan. Retrieved 6 July 2021.