D
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Well at least Norinco has the common decency to use brass for the shell casing of the new 8.6mm instead of the usual copper coated steel.
PLA Small arms
- Thread starter Vanguard1688
- Start date
TerraN_EmpirE
Tyrant King
The slots on ths handguard look like they might be Mlok.
by78
General
A new assault rifle family has been issued on a limited basis and will debut at the 2019 National Day parade. The No. 208 Institute is the responsible party for the new rifle, and the development team has received numerous commendations and awards. However, it is not mentioned if a new round will go with the new rifle family.
Zoom in onto the pictured blueprint and flip it upside down, this is the grainy version, which confirms the rifle will no longer be a bullpup but instead adapt a conventional layout:
A brief history. Pre-research phase started in 2014. Project officially commenced on March 15th, 2016. In two short years, 270 examples of 10 prototype designs underwent testing, expending some 2,200,000 rounds.
The expected life of the new barrel design is 100% longer (presumably over previous Chinese assault rifles).
The new rifle is expected to serve the army in the next 20-30 years.
Zoom in onto the pictured blueprint and flip it upside down, this is the grainy version, which confirms the rifle will no longer be a bullpup but instead adapt a conventional layout:
A brief history. Pre-research phase started in 2014. Project officially commenced on March 15th, 2016. In two short years, 270 examples of 10 prototype designs underwent testing, expending some 2,200,000 rounds.
The expected life of the new barrel design is 100% longer (presumably over previous Chinese assault rifles).
The new rifle is expected to serve the army in the next 20-30 years.
A new assault rifle family has been issued on a limited basis and will debut at the 2019 National Day parade. The No. 208 Institute is the responsible party for the new rifle, and the development team has received numerous commendations and awards. However, it is not mentioned if a new round will go with the new rifle family.
Zoom in onto the pictured blueprint and flip it upside down, this is the grainy version, which confirms the rifle will no longer be a bullpup but instead adapt a conventional layout:
A brief history. Pre-research phase started in 2014. Project officially commenced on March 15th, 2016. In two short years, 270 examples of 10 prototype designs underwent testing, expending some 2,200,000 rounds.
The expected life of the new barrel design is 100% longer (presumably over previous Chinese assault rifles).
The new rifle is expected to serve the army in the next 20-30 years.
Great post.
I think this has been long expected, given the various new export rifle families that have emerged over the last few years as well as the photos of different rifle configurations undergoing testing. Coupled with news a year or so back from rifle importers that factories were busy working on the new rifle family, I think it was a logical conclusion for the new rifle's unveiling to likely occur in 2019 with the national day parade.
the schematic also confirms what was long known that it would have a conventional layout. We can't make out the details too clearly but it seems to have a couple of similar features to the pictures we've seen in the last few years and export rifle families like CS/LR17.
It will be interesting to see what other rifles in the family emerge beyond the baseline assault rifle type, like DMR, SAW/IAR, PDW etc.
I also expect the rifle to have a decent size rail on the top (which the schematic outline seems to suggest but can't really be confirmed), if not a full length rail considering what other presumably related rifles like CS/LR17 and the prototype rifle pics had shown, so I wonder if the PLA will finally produce a couple type of sights to be issued as standard as well.
Hopefully we can get a few leaks of the new weapon before the parade next year
by78
General
There definitely will be new optics. One of the passages I posted mentions that optics were one of the primary areas the development team focused on since the very beginning, before the project even officially commenced.
Making optics standard with the rifle is usually a bad idea as the technology for those evolves all the time. Sights are typically good enough. What would be interesting IMHO would be if they introduced a new rifle round. But barrel quality and lifetime are also important upgrades in continued operations in hot climates for sure.
I disagree, seeing how ACOG has been standard issue for US arm forces for awhile now. Even new recruits mostly train with ACOG. As long as the optic aren't integrated and can be swapped out, upgrading optics shouldn't be an issue.
TerraN_EmpirE
Tyrant King
Interesting that rather then redesign the QBZ95 for optics they are choosing a clean sheet. I wonder if perhaps they are thinking that with concepts like the smart scope and power rails on the horizon they might not be looking to make a rifle that is more able to adapt to that as those systems usually use the butt stock as a battery compartment.
Means nothing. If the PLA choose a sighting system and contract to a maker any changes would have to be approved by the PLA. The maker can do all the commerical models they want but any changes to the TDP for PLA orders have to get the approval of the PLA.
If the PLA adopt a model in 2019 that model can remain in service as long as the PLA chooses and even if in 2021 They offer an improved model or stop making a commercial equal the PLA can demand new units of their chosen model.
Generally though when you do have new models introduced the old types as long as they are still operational don't suddenly get tossed in the bin.
and just because a army chooses to go to optics doesn't mean they delete the irons. Most retain iron sights as a back up. Although with modern military grade optics they are basically bomb proof so it's just really dead weight.
In irons vs glass Irons are slower to aquaire targets, are poorer in conditions of low light especially when trying to use night vision devices or gas masks or facial protective equipment.
They also take a lot longer to train on.
They just standardizedthe 5.8mm family and then upgraded it again with the 95-I Jumping calibre again this soon seems unlikely. I know that Both India and Pakistan are going back to 7.62x51mm the DPRK and Russians are mixed with classic 7.62x39mm and 5.45x39mm most of the rest of asia is mixed between the Big three 7.62x51mm, 5.56x45mm and 7.62x39mm. A few are rumored to be shopping for a next gen round but almost none have a actual hard program save for the U.S. 6.8GP in the NGSW program. It's not easy to get a new rifle calibre or round from the lab to full fielding. They might improve 5.8x42mm a little but it seems unlikely to try an just jump again.
One of the standards along side the Aimpoint series to be sure they have changed models some improvements over the years.
We have reached a point where most optical gunsights are good enough for most potential combat needs.
I mean there are some real standouts that are top of the line. The Aimpoint for example their late models have a battery life that is longer then the battery life of the battery. You can set it on and leave it on for so long that a brand new battery will curode away well still giving it power.
ACOG is the A10 of gunsights simple, and tough to a fault.
Though still pricy modern optical gunsights are more and more affordable, rugged, lighter weight and long life. Red dots are actually very simple modern operating systems well systems like the ACOG are virtually caveman.
More and more the industry exists why not take advantage?
And infact you also have the start of the beyond Next gen gunsights with the smart sights like the Tracking point and Smart shooter system actually slowly being trailed and fielded. Leaving it to simple irons is like using a bolt action in the age of semi autos.