The Ministry of National Defense yesterday showcased the updated capabilities of T112 rifles, which are soon to be used by Taiwan’s combat troops.
The Taiwan-manufactured rifle has undergone enhancements based on user feedback since it was first unveiled at the Taipei International Aerospace and Defense Industry Exhibition in September last year under the name XT112, the ministry told a media event at the 205th Armory in Kaohsiung.
The updated weapon features ergonomic improvements to the trigger and grip, as well as a new shell ejection deflector, it said.
Photo: Walid Berrazeg, AFP
The sling has a quick detach system that allows for more configurations based on operational needs, while the gun’s close-quarters combat capabilities have been enhanced due to its “dual-sided design,” the ministry said.
The effective range of the rifle, which fires 5.56-by-45mm cartridges, has been extended to 600m from 400m, and the barrel lifespan has been extended to 10,000 rounds from 6,000, it said.
The T112’s “three-round burst” mode has been changed to “two-round burst” based on US battlefield experience, it said.
Minister of National Defense Wellington Koo (顧立雄) last month announced that Taiwan’s military would procure 86,114 T112 rifles starting from next year that would be equipped with telescopic and red-dot sights in accordance with the operational needs of units.
The T112s would be distributed in stages to army personnel from next year to 2029 to replace T91 rifles, which are the standard weapon of combat troops, military sources familiar with the matter said.
The T91 has a spread of 14cm at 100m, while the updated T112’s spread is 9.8cm at the same distance, the ministry said.
The T91 and T112 models are produced by the 205th Armory.
The ministry in April announced that a first batch of 25,000 T112 rifles had been ordered.
In addition, the ministry also unveiled new bulletproof plating that will be mass produced from next year for distribution to Taiwan’s troops.
The new Taiwan-manufactured body armor has been developed according to Enhanced Small Arms Protective Insert (ESAPI) specifications used by the US military, MND officials said.
Made from ceramic materials and polyethylene fibers and weighing 2.2 kilograms, the plating can absorb 5.8 × 42 millimeter heavy rounds used by the Chinese military, the ministry said.
This is an improvement over the protection offered against 7.62 millimeter standard caliber rounds by plating currently used by Taiwan’s military, the MND said.
The protective area of the new body armor extends 25 centimeters by 30 centimeters, it added.
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