Mon, Apr 08, 2024 page2

• Military’s new rifle has started mass production

  SUPERIOR ERGONOMICS: The T112 combat rifle has improved functionality and stability during firing, and would replace the T91 the military is currently using

  • By Wu Che-yu and Jonathan Chin / Staff reporter, with staff writer
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  The Taiwanese army’s new standard combat rifle, the T112, has entered mass production with 25,000 units in the pipeline, a military source close to the matter said.

  It debuted last year at the Taipei Aerospace & Defense Industry Exhibition, at which time were designated as XT112.

  The T112 combat rifle, which is scheduled to replace the T91 assault rifle the Republic of China Army currently uses, is a 5.56x54mm weapon weighing 3.5kg and measuring 940mm, with a fully extended telescoping stock, the Armaments Bureau’s 205th Arsenal said.

  

  The T112 combat rifle developed by the Taiwanese military is pictured in an undated photograph.

  Photo: Taipei Times

  Equipped with a single shot, two-round burst and fully automatic firing modes, the rifle is effective up to 600m, an arsenal spokesman said, adding that superior ergonomics has improved its functionality and stability during firing.

  Features include a five-position adjustable telescoping stock contoured for better cheek weld, an improved flash hider and a universal bayonet mount for a variety of bayonets and combat daggers, he said.

  It is also a fully ambidextrous system with a charging handle that can be operated on either side, dual magazine release and fire group selector, and a deflector near the ejection port to protect a left-handed shooter’s face from spent carriage casings, he added.

  The rifle utilizes a 30-round polymer magazine that is stronger than previous aluminum-based designs, reducing the chance of misfeeds, while a transparent window allows shooters to see the number of remaining bullets, the spokesperson said.

  The carrying handle above the receiver has been obviated as modern riflemen march in shorter distances and have little need for this feature, with an optics mount taking its place, he added.

  Modern infantry combat places a premium on the rifle’s ability to adapt optics and an improved shoulder strap design is used for ease of carriage, he said.

  The assault rifle also has a dedicated laser illuminator, optical sights and flashlights currently under development, with the red dot close combat optics and advanced combat optics being particularly important, the spokesperson said, adding that these features would significantly augment soldiers’ capabilities in night combat and fighting at range.

  The advanced combat optic would be a four-power scope with a ring-shaped reticle, mil dots for targets out to 300m and bullet drop compensation for targets up to 600m, enhancing combat marksmanship, he said.

  The T112 rifle makes use of an M-LOK handguard, a modular design that allows tactical accessories to be attached and adjusted to fit the user’s preferences and operational needs, the spokesperson said.

  The Armaments Bureau also revealed a sample of the T112 heavy bolt action sniper rifle chambered in a 12.7x99mm Browning, the first domestically designed weapon of its type.

  The 205th Arsenal is confident in the sniper rifle’s performance, as the system has undergone a side-by-side evaluation with the Accuracy International AX50, the spokesman said.

  The heavy sniper rifle weighs 12kg and is fed with a 10-round magazine, with an effective range of 2,000m, he said.

  The design also emphasized ergonomics, equipped with a folding stock, an adjustable cheek weld and recoil pad, a M-LOK handguard, an aluminum receiver and a suppressor-ready flash hider, the spokesperson said.

  The sniper rifle has completed its operational evaluation and more than 100 units has been ordered to equip Taiwanese special operations forces, he added.
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