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QBZ-191

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Type 191 Automatic Rifle
QBZ-191 assault rifle
TypeAssault rifle
Carbine (QBZ-192)
Designated marksman rifle (QBU-191)
Place of originChina
Service history
In service2019–present
Used bySee Users
Production history
Designer208 Research Institute[1]
Designed2014–2020[1][better source needed]
ManufacturerChongqing Jianshe
VariantsSee Variants
Specifications
Mass3.4 kg (7.5 lb) (unloaded)[citation needed]
Length950 mm (37 in) (stock extended)
710 mm (28 in) (stock retracted)[citation needed]
Barrel length
[citation needed]
Cartridge5.8×42mm DBP191
5.56×45mm NATO (QBZ-191T)
ActionGas-operated short-stroke piston[2][3]
Rate of fire750 rounds/min cyclic[citation needed]
Effective firing range
Feed system
[4]
Sights
  • Flip-up iron sights
  • QMK-152 prism sight (3×)
  • QMK-171A prism sight (3×)
  • QMK-191 telescopic sight (3×–8.6×)[5]
  • IR5118 thermal scope (1×)
  • Picatinny rail available for other optics

The QBZ-191 Automatic Rifle (Chinese: 191式自动步枪; pinyin: Yāo jiǔ yāo Shì Zìdòng Bùqiāng) is a Chinese assault rifle chambered for the 5.8×42mm intermediate cartridge, designed and manufactured by Chongqing Jianshe as a new-generation service rifle for the People's Liberation Army (PLA) and People's Armed Police (PAP). The rifle's designation "QBZ" stands for "light weapon (Qīng Wŭqì) – rifle (Bùqiāng) – automatic (Zìdòng)".[6]

The new rifle was formally revealed at the 70th Anniversary National Day military parade on 1 October 2019,[7] carried by personnel of the PLA Ground Force and People's Armed Police.

It is designated as part of the Type 20 (Chinese: 20式; pinyin: 20 Shì) weapon family by the People's Liberation Army.[1][8]

History

[edit]
A PLAGF soldier armed with a QBZ-191 rifle during the 2021 International Army Games
A prototype of the QBZ-192

The Chinese military initiated the development of conventional-layout service rifles in 2014, with multiple manufacturers involved in the development and bidding process. Various prototypes of the new weapon platform were leaked online in 2016 and 2017.[9][10]

The QBZ-191 rifle was designed by Norinco's 208 Research Institute,[1] which also designed the bullpup QBZ-95 assault rifle. According to the director of the 208 Research Institute, QBZ-191 is a component of the new "Integrated Soldier Combat System" (单兵综合作战系统), which aims to overhaul the PLA's infantry equipment.[2]

The QBZ-191 was first announced in the 2019 Chinese national parade and would gradually replace the QBZ-95 rifle family in Chinese military service. The QBZ-191 features several improvements, aiming to resolve the unsatisfactory issues, such as ergonomics, of the Type 95 platform.[9][3] It was reported since 2021 that the QBZ-191 would eventually replace the QBZ-95 and QBZ-03 in PLA service.[11]

Since August 2023, Chinese special forces units use the QBZ-192[12] with armored infantry units following suit.[13]

In August 2024, Thailand reportedly was the first nation to acquire the QBZ-195T for Thai special forces, based on their experience from interactions with Chinese soldiers in joint exercises including “Assault-2023” and “Blue Assault-2023".[14] It was reported that the QBZ-195T had superior performance to the M4 and M16A4 rifles.[15] This is part of Thai efforts to diversify sources of military hardware.[16]

Design

[edit]

Compared to the bullpup QBZ-95, the QBZ-191 uses a conventional configuration similar to the QBZ-03, with greatly improved ergonomics, ambidextrous usability, and better reliability across different environments.[9] The platform features various barrel lengths and handguard configurations. A shorter carbine version was carried by vehicle crews during the 2019 parade.[17]

The QBZ-191 rifle features a full-length Picatinny rail on the top and comes standard with new 3× daylight prismatic optics called QMK152 and QMK-171A, while a thermal sight is also available. The DMR variant is equipped with a new 3–8.6×[5] scope called QMK-191,[18] and the weapon can also be equipped with the IR5118 digital night vision/thermal scope.[19] The rifle is also equipped with backup iron sights that can be folded down when not in use.[9] The main body is divided into the upper and lower receivers, both are made of aluminium alloy and connected by two assembly pins, while the handguard, pistol grip and telescoping stock are made of polymer material.[9][3] The reciprocating charging handle is located on the right side, while the bolt-release button sits on the left, above the "rock-and-lock" magazine insertion well. The weapon features a short-stroke piston gas-operation design with rotating bolt.[2][3]

The rifle has improved ergonomics, modularity and customization options, featuring a 4-position adjustable buttstock, ambidextrous fire selector, and a lengthened magazine release lever located in front of the trigger guard for speed-reloading or easier manipulation when wearing gloves. The new polymer magazine has a redesigned surface texture for better grip and a transparent ammunition-checking window.[2] The handguard has provisions at its 3, 6 and 9 o'clock positions, which allow small sections of Picatinny rails to be selectively installed through screw holes, so that various accessories such as flashlight, laser module, foregrip and bipod can be attached.[9][3] The weapon platform can also be mounted with bayonets, suppressors, and under-barrel grenade launchers.[3]

According to Chinese media, the QBZ-191 rifle is chambered in the Chinese-proprietary 5.8×42mm caliber with a redesigned DBP-191 ammunition that has better ballistic performance at medium to long ranges.[20][21] The rifle has been designed into three variants: a standard rifle version with a 368.3 mm (14.5 in) barrel, a carbine version with a 266.7 mm (10.5 in) barrel called QBZ-192, and a long-barreled DMR version called the QBU-191.[22] The standard QBZ-191 has a full-auto rate of fire of 750 rounds per minute.[citation needed] The full-auto capability is retained on the QBU-191 designated marksman rifle, which could be easily configured into a light support weapon with a drum magazine.

Along with the weapon, new accessories were also developed as part of the program, including laser sights, flashlight mounts, optics, foregrips, and magazines. Unlike its predecessor—the QBZ-95—the QBZ-191 uses the Picatinny rail integration system, thus making the use of the former's modified dovetail rail-mounted sights incompatible without an additional mount. The weapon is able to feed from the 30-round QBZ-95 and QBZ-95-1 magazines,[4] which was commonly present on prototypes,[9] and from the 75-round magazines of the QJB-95 (QBB-95) and QJB-95-1 light support weapons.[4] A more transparent design and a diamond pattern has been reported, similar to the magazines of the Heckler & Koch G36, commonly used on QBU-191 rifles.[18][4] Included in the development program, there is also a foregrip developed for the QBZ-191, which includes a bipod design on the bottom surface and an integrated laser.[3]

Variants

[edit]
QBZ-191
Assault rifle with a 14.5 in (368.3 mm) barrel.[23]
QBZ-192
Carbine variant with a 10.5 in (266.7 mm) barrel.[23]
QBU-191
Designated marksman rifle with an 800 m (870 yd) effective range,[1] fitted with an accurized long, heavy free-floating barrel, extended handguard, 30-round box magazine, and a QMK-191 variable-magnification (3–8.6×) telescopic sight.[5] Selective fire with full-auto mode is retained on the marksman rifle, improving its fire suppression capability.
QBZ-195T
A variant of the QBZ-191 meant to be chambered in 5.56mm NATO ammo.[14]

Users

[edit]

References

[edit]
Wikimedia Commons has media related to QBZ-191.
  1. ^ a b c d e f "20式枪族各显神威 狙击快狠准". Ta Kung Pao (in Chinese). 13 February 2023.
  2. ^ a b c d Wood, Peter (November 2019). "China Introduces New Battle Rifle for the PLA". Operational Environment Watch. US: TRADOC.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g "QBZ-191 assault rifle (China)". Modern Firearms. October 2021.
  4. ^ a b c d "新枪入列！中国军队新一代枪族震撼登场：191系列步枪大量细节曝光！透明弹匣 新型瞄具亮相 模块化设计公开！" (video). YouTube (in Chinese). CCTV-7. 12 April 2022.
  5. ^ a b c ""枪界变形金刚"列装部队 系解放军继"95式"后新一代枪族". Phoenix Media (in Chinese). 26 June 2022. Archived from the original on 26 June 2022.
  6. ^ "More details emerge about PLA's new assault rifle". Janes Information Services. 14 November 2019.
  7. ^ Makichuk, Dave (23 April 2020). "QBZ-191: Meet China's new assault rifle". Asia Times.
  8. ^ "他，给20式枪族"立规矩"的人！" (video). CCTV (in Chinese). CCTV-7. 30 April 2024.
  9. ^ a b c d e f g "QBZ-1(x)式自动步枪". Gun World (in Chinese). 12 March 2020.
  10. ^ F, Nathaniel (18 May 2017). "Chinese PLA Ground Forces and Marines to Replace QBZ-95-1 with Completely New NON-BULLPUP Rifle?". The Firearm Blog.
  11. ^ "Images emerge of PLA's newest infantry weapons". Janes Information Services. 25 June 2021.
  12. ^ https://armyrecognition.com/news/army-news/army-news-2023/china-equips-its-special-forces-with-new-qbz-192-assault-rifle
  13. ^ https://armyrecognition.com/news/army-news/army-news-2023/china-equips-armored-infantry-with-qbz-192-assault-rifle
  14. ^ a b https://defencesecurityasia.com/en/thailand-special-forces-choose-new-rifle-chinese-made-qbz-195t/
  15. ^ https://sofrep.com/news/chinese-qbz-195t-thailand/
  16. ^ https://fulcrum.sg/thailands-army-white-paper-heat-is-on-to-supply-the-rta/
  17. ^ Wood, Peter (20 November 2019). "China Introduces New Battle Rifle for the PLA". Ashtree Analytics. Archived from the original on 10 April 2021. Retrieved 10 April 2021.
  18. ^ a b "191型精准步枪高原开打！"透明弹匣+高倍瞄准镜"细节满满". NetEase News (in Chinese). 23 June 2022. Archived from the original on 22 July 2022.
  19. ^ "QBU-191 5.8mm precision rifle of China revealed". China-Arms. 20 May 2020.
  20. ^ J, Anthony (30 September 2019). "First Photos of Chinese PLA New Standard Rifle and What We Know So Far". The Firearm Blog.
  21. ^ Roblin, Sebastien (8 January 2021). "What We've Learned About China's New QBZ-191 Assault Rifle". National Interest.
  22. ^ Suciu, Peter (22 December 2020). "Chinese PLA Troops in Tibet are Getting New QBU-191 Sniper Rifles". National Interest.
  23. ^ a b https://sadefensejournal.com/seeing-red-a-photographic-exploration-of-recent-infantry-weapons-of-chinas-pla/
  24. ^ Saballa, Joe (19 October 2021). "China Introduces Next-Gen QBZ-191 Assault Rifle". The Defense Post.
  25. ^ "香港警察护旗方队手持191步枪？网友：要换装国产武器了？". Sohu (in Chinese). Beijing: 军武速递. 13 December 2023.
  26. ^ https://thedefensepost.com/2024/08/07/thailand-customer-china-rifles/
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