TADTE 2023: Taiwan develops new rifle to replace T91 rifles

A 5.56 mm XT112 assault rifle prototype showcased at TADTE 2023. The rifle has a firing range of 600 m. (Janes/Kapil Kajal)

The Taiwanese Ministry of National Defense's (MND's) Armaments Bureau has developed a new 5.56 mm rifle called XT112 assault rifle to replace the Republic of China Army's (RoCA's) in-service T91 assault rifles.

The bureau showcased the rifle at the Taipei Aerospace & Defense Technology Exhibition 2023 (TADTE 2023) held in Taipei from 14 to 16 September.

Under development by the 205th Arsenal of the Armaments Bureau, which is based in the southern city of Kaohsiung, the new rifle is designed to provide enhanced performance and stability over the T91.

Frank Wang, the gun engineer from the 205th Arsenal, told Janes at the show that the barrel accuracy of the XT112 is 30% higher than the T91.

The new gun has reduced weight and vibrations as its development methodology is different from the T91, Frank said.

According to the Armaments Bureau marketing material, the rifle has four shooting modes: safe, semi‐automatic, two‐round burst, and fully automatic.

The 30 rounds magazine rifle has a firing range of 600 m and features polygon-thickened barrel, multifunction tactical handguard, integrated Picatinny rail, and adjustable stock, the bureau added.

The rifle is also equipped with XTS112 aiming laser and XTS112 close-in fight sight.

The XTS112 aiming laser is an illuminator with a remote-control switch and a laser pointer. It also features a zoom function. The addition of a laser pointer allows the shooter to aim quickly and accurately at targets during both day and night operations, according to the bureau.