The Ministry of National Defense’s (MND) Armaments Bureau today unveiled newly designed bullet-resistant panels and T112 combat rifles, with thousands of units set for delivery next year.
The panels were designed to withstand 5.8mm steel core bullets, researcher Hsu Yen-wei (許廷尉) with the Materiel Production Center’s 205th Arsenal in Kaohsiung said at a media event.
Although the military cannot obtain the 5.8mm bullets actually used by the Chinese People’s Liberation Army, developers used 5.56mm bullets and changed the velocity to simulate them, Hsu said.
Photo: CNA
The current panels used were designed to withstand regular 7.62mm bullets.
Used in ballistic vests worn by soldiers, the panels are made of three layers of ceramic and polyethylene sheeting, with similar dimensions to the military’s current vests, Hsu said.
However, they are to weigh 2.2kg compared to the current 1.9kg, he added.
About 60,000 units are to be produced in the first batch set for delivery next year, the bureau said.
The MND also showcased updated capabilities for the T112 assault rifle that are to soon be used by Taiwan's frontline combat troops.
The Taiwan-manufactured T112 assault 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 MND said.
Specifically, the updated T112 features ergonomic improvements to the trigger and grip, the MND said, as well as a new shell ejection deflector.
Moreover, the sling for the T112 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 MND said.
The effective range of the rifle, which fires 5.56mm by 45mm cartridges, has been extended from 400m to 600m, and the barrel lifespan has been extended from 6,000 to 10,000 rounds.
The T112 rifle's "three-round burst" mode has been changed to a "two-round burst" based on US battlefield experience, the MND said.
Last month, Minister of National Defense Wellington Koo (顧立雄) announced that Taiwan's military is to procure 86,114 T112 rifles starting from next year that are to be equipped with telescopic sights and red dot sights in accordance with units' operational needs.
According to military sources familiar with the matter, the T112 rifles would be distributed in stages to army personnel between next year and 2029, replacing the T91 rifle that is currently the standard weapon for Taiwan's combat troops.
Whereas the current T91 rifle has a shooting accuracy spread of 14cm at a distance of 100m, the updated T112's spread is 9.8cm at the same distance, the MND said today.
Both the T91 and T112 models are produced by the 205th Arsenal.
In April, the MND announced that a first batch of 25,000 T112 rifles had been ordered.
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