The CM11 Brave Tiger, also known as M48H, was developed for the Republic of China Army through cooperation between Taiwan's armored-vehicle development organization and General Dynamics. It combined available US-pattern tank components into a domestic solution when acquiring newer complete tanks was politically difficult. The result was a pragmatic second-generation MBT tailored to Taiwan's inventory and constraints.
The CM11 is notable because it is a deliberate hybrid: an M60A3-style hull, an M48 turret, a 105 mm gun, and modernized fire-control equipment. This mix did not create a true third-generation tank, but it gave Taiwan better night-fighting and first-round-hit potential than older M48 variants. Its limitations remain armor protection and growth potential against modern anti-tank threats.
CM11 tanks formed a major part of Taiwan's armored force while the island waited for newer platforms and balanced procurement against air, naval, and missile-defense priorities. Their continuing relevance comes from geography and defensive doctrine: they are not expeditionary tanks, but they are part of Taiwan's ground-defense reserve for counter-landing and mobile defense tasks.
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