XT-97 Assault Rifle

XT97
The XT-97 assault rifle
Type	Assault rifle
Place of origin	Taiwan (Republic of China)
Production history
Designed	2008
Manufacturer	205th Armory
Produced	TBD
Specifications
Weight	4 kg (excluding magazine)
Length	850 mm (stock extended) 770 mm (stock retracted) 580 mm (stock folded)
Barrel length	370 mm
Cartridge	5.56×45mm NATO 9×19mm Parabellum
Action	Gas-operated, rotating bolt
Rate of fire	850 rpm
Effective firing range	600 m
Feed system	Various STANAG Magazines.
Sights	Various optical sights on Picatinny railing. Folding front and rear backup iron sights.

The XT97 assault rifle (Chinese: 5.56公厘XT97突擊步槍) is a prototype multipurpose 5.56mm assault rifle currently under development at the 205th Armory, Ministry of Defense, Republic of China. It was first displayed in public during the 2009 Taipei Aerospace Technology Exhibition.

Description

The weapon resembles the Belgian-made FN SCAR and created with the idea of the famous Heckler & Koch MP5 sub machine gun.

This feature, together with the relocation of the charging handle above the barrel, suggests that the internal design departs significantly from the T65 assault rifle lineage. The stock is both retractable and foldable.

According to official news release, the XT97 is designed to permit quick barrel change in the field, allowing different calibers of ammunition to be fired, as the weapon is capable change the caliber to the 9×19mm Parabellum round to a sub machine gun and the suggested 5.56×45mm NATO round to a heavier weapon.

Intended users of the XT97 rifle include infantry, airborne, marines, artillery, and mechanized/motorized vehicle crew. No figures have been released on volume production.

See also

• Assault rifle/Carbine
  • T65 assault rifle (5.56mm NATO)
  • T86 carbine assault rifle (5.56mm NATO)
  • T91 carbine assault rifle (5.56mm NATO)
  • XT-97 Assault Rifle (5.56mm NATO)

References

• 5.56公厘XT97突擊步槍