Chinese military armed with a machine gun QBZ-191

49
At the military parade in Beijing on the 1 of October 2019 on the 70 anniversary of the PRC, the Chinese military first appeared in front of the public with a new machine gun. At the parade, Chinese People’s Army soldiers were armed with a classic QBZ-191 assault rifle. The fact that the Chinese military decided to seek a replacement for their QBZ-95 assault rifle, made in the bullpup layout, became known two years ago. It seems the replacement is ready.


Chinese soldiers with a new machine gun




At the same time, the designation QBZ-191 is not final, the machine will probably be officially adopted by the PLA under a different designation. According to the American publication of the military-political theme of The National Interest, officially the machine can be adopted by the designations QBZ-17 or QBZ-19, where the figure will indicate the year of development weapons, as previously happened with the QBZ-95 bullpup circuit machine.

China will abandon the machine QBZ-95


Demonstrated at a military parade in Beijing on October 1, the new machine gun is expected to replace the QBZ-95. The latter has been in service with the Chinese army for over 20 years and is the most massive small arms in the country's armed forces. Refusal from the machine, made in the bullpup layout, fits into the general world practice. This decision has been reached not only in China in the past few years. Despite the fact that no one puts an end to such small arms, more and more large operators are abandoning the bullpup assault rifles. Recent examples include France, which has decided to replace its FAMAS rifle with a new classic HK-416 assault rifle designed by Heckler & Koch.

The development of the QBZ-95 light automatic rifle was completed in the 1995 year. In the same year, mass production of new weapons began. For the first time, a bullpup machine was introduced to the general public in 1997, when the Chinese administration regained control of Hong Kong. The new garrison was armed with the Chinese garrison of Hong Kong. In total, three basic modifications of this weapon were developed for the armed forces of the Celestial Empire: a standard QBZ-95 assault rifle with a sector magazine on 30 cartridges; QBZ-95B with a shortened barrel, primarily designed for arming units of the Chinese Navy and special units; QBB-95 LSW - light machine gun with a heavier longer barrel and drum magazine on 80 rounds.


Automatic QBB-95


In the 2010-2011 years, an updated version of the assault rifle with improved ergonomics was spread, this model was designated QBB-95-1. In addition to improving ergonomics, the designers worked to improve the strength of plastic parts, achieved an increase in barrel life, and also introduced a new optical sight. In addition to improving the ergonomics and reliability of the product, the machine was adapted to use the most advanced cartridge at that time, 5,8x42 mm DBP10. Despite the fact that the Chinese military traditionally did not comment on the shortcomings of their weapons, Chinese bloggers often criticized the QBB-95 assault rifles, listing all the shortcomings that are characteristic of weapons of this kind.

The first hints that the PLA was looking for a replacement for its standard QBB-95 assault rifle appeared back in the 2016-2017 years, when the first two images of the future assault rifle were published in one of the Chinese military blogs. Later, this post attracted the attention of American journalists, including the publication Popular Mechanics, and they talked about weapons in the media. A few days before the parade in Beijing, timed to coincide with the 70 anniversary of the PRC, several photos of the new weapons appeared on the network again. The newly presented samples had a pronounced similarity with the photographs shown two years ago. And finally, on 1 on October 2019, thousands of Chinese soldiers marched in the parade, armed with new machine guns.

New Chinese automatic machine QBZ-191


A distinctive feature of the new weapon is its modular design, which is typical for many modern assault rifles. QBZ-191 can be easily transformed to solve various combat missions. The fact that the new assault rifle is distinguished by a more convenient layout and the concept of a modular design was emphasized even by the announcers of Chinese television, who highlighted, among other things, the versatility, reliability and increased firepower of the new assault rifle. At the same time, experts have already noted the similarity of the new Chinese assault rifle with the HK-416, this model of small arms was adopted by the United States Marine Corps under the designation M27, as well as an combat assault rifle for special operations forces FN SCAR.


New Chinese automatic machine QBZ-191



HK-416 assault rifle


The new machine will be presented in three main versions, equipped with different trunks. The version with a barrel length of 10,5 inches (267 mm) will be designated PDW. This machine will be designed primarily for arming the crews of military vehicles and other equipment. The bulk of the infantry will be armed with a machine gun with a barrel length of 14,5 inches (368 mm). In addition, an elongated heavy barrel will be available, which will turn the machine into a weapon designed to equip snipers in the compartment, providing shooters with confident destruction of targets at a distance of up to 600 meters. At the same time, the effective firing range of the PDW version is estimated at 300 meters, of a standard machine gun - 400 meters. The stated rate of fire at the level of 750 rounds per minute.

The new machine will receive a butterfly valve and shock-free automation system by removing powder gases from the bore with a short piston stroke, the Kalashnikov magazine reports. The switch of fire modes, which is controlled by the thumb, allows you to fire with single shots and in fully automatic mode. At the same time, American journalists note that the Chinese refused to use the fire regime with a cut-off of three shots. It is also noted that with the new machine gun it will be possible to use standard stores from the QBB-95 assault rifles.



The new Chinese assault rifle meets today's popular concept, when the armament of infantrymen should easily adapt to the solution of various combat missions. In addition to the replaceable barrels and Picatinny trunks, this is facilitated by the use of a telescopic butt adjustable in length, it is noted that it will have 4-5 fixed values ​​(folding the butt is not provided). Also, the new Chinese assault rifle will receive a long Picatinny rail, mounted on top of the receiver and forend made of aluminum. The presence of such a bar allows you to set a large number of different sights, while mechanical sights, in particular the front sight, are made folding.

Chinese cartridge 5,8X42 mm


The new Chinese machine gun, like its predecessor, uses an intermediate cartridge 5,8x42 mm. Work on the creation of this ammunition began in China in the mid-1980's. When developing their own cartridge, Chinese engineers took into account all the experience in creating similar low-pulse intermediate cartridges, which by that time had already been accumulated by the military of NATO countries and the Soviet Union. The new cartridge was originally developed for a wide range of small arms: machine guns, machine guns, sniper rifles. According to the assurances of the Chinese side, this ammunition is superior to similar NATO cartridges of the 5,56x45 mm and the Soviet cartridge 5,45x39 mm.

Chinese military armed with a machine gun QBZ-191

From top to bottom: cartridges 5,8x42 mm, 5,45x39 mm and 5,56x45 mm


According to the developers, the Chinese 5,8x42 mm cartridge has better ballistics than similar low-pulse intermediate cartridges, a more gentle flight path and more bullet energy at medium and long distances. The advantages of the cartridge also include greater penetration compared to standard NATO cartridges 5,56x45 mm. At the same time, the superiority of the Chinese cartridge does not seem to be any significant. It is no coincidence that for all the years of production, he was not interested in other countries, the ammunition 5,8X42 mm is still produced only in China.

Officially in the arsenal of the PLA, a new cartridge was adopted back in 1987 under the designation DBP-87. All ammunition of this caliber have a bottle-shaped sleeve with a groove. The standard cartridge, which is used by machine gunners, is equipped with a bullet with a steel core weighing 4,15 grams. The initial flight speed of a similar bullet is 930 m / s, and the energy of the bullet is 1795 J. Specially for machine guns and sniper rifles, a cartridge with a heavy long-range bullet was developed, the mass of which grew to 5 grams and muzzle energy increased to 2000 J. It is believed that the new machine can get updated ammunition caliber 5,8 mm, having the best characteristics at medium and long range firing.
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49 comments
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  1. +5
    17 October 2019 05: 33
    Thank you Sergey! As always informative and accessible to neophytes.
    Regards, Vlad!
    1. -7
      17 October 2019 11: 19
      Even the Chinese are switching to a design where the barrel and receiver or bolt box are rigidly fastened coaxial part - the upper receiver, on which sighting and other equipment is installed without any Pornography ala dovetail or "non-standard receiver covers".
      Izhmekh and other domestic manufacturers continue to engage in anon ... needlework based on the AK deadlock scheme.
      1. 0
        17 October 2019 12: 58
        and the sense of grind this receiver? you have nowhere to put money to establish a new production for the development and production of machines that will be several times more expensive than AK? money is better spent on the development of more modern types of weapons than re-equipment where it does not provide significant strategic advantages
        1. 0
          18 October 2019 09: 28
          The point in the principles of capitalist production is to sell the same product twice. You have not demolished the old boots, but are forced to throw them away, the fashion has passed.
        2. 0
          23 October 2019 19: 24
          Are you talking about creating a handheld beam gun? )
          The fact that AKM, AK-74 is becoming obsolete. AK-12 - as an option of modernization. With someone who has a fixed receiver cover, where you can easily set sights.
          The future of developed countries is fully professional armies, which should be better equipped than extras-conscripts.
          1. 0
            23 October 2019 21: 48
            there’s nothing to be obsolete and it makes no sense to invest money, the Americans wanted to replace it with a bushmaster, and then spat, because it’s a waste of money, they made amb-17 for you, and in order to shoot a box of cartridges in the bushes there are no precise receivers and collimators for a lot of money Not needed
            1. +1
              24 October 2019 04: 37
              Nothing to obsolete? “Is there a hanging trunk?” (Accuracy, resistance to overheating) Can I install sights on the receiver? Butt moved to the same line with the barrel? Is it convenient to use left-handed people?
              A professional has to shoot not only at the bushes (this is for the "crowd"), but also directly at the enemy soldiers. With a collimator it turns out faster.
              1. -1
                24 October 2019 11: 07
                But you can’t put a collimator on AK? and all the subtlest adjustments only for shooting at the shooting range will work, in the war everything will be different, where is shooting directly at the soldiers? write some heresy
        3. 0
          15 November 2019 14: 22
          Quote: fruit_cake
          money is better spent on the development of more modern types of weapons than re-equipment where it does not provide significant strategic advantages

          You are absolutely right.
  2. +3
    17 October 2019 06: 38
    Americans are also talking about changing the caliber to 6,8mm ..
  3. +3
    17 October 2019 07: 10
    The PRC follows the USSR along the arrow, it should be different from the others, it should surpass at least a little. In general, the cartridge 5.8 is a dead end and no one will be interested. Unless they start giving out to Africans for free.
  4. 0
    17 October 2019 07: 17
    Does anyone here invent bullpup small arms?
    1. +8
      17 October 2019 07: 29
      ADS-machine two-medium. Modular design. Adopted
      ASh-12. Assault machine for anti-terror groups. Caliber 12,7x55.
      Adopted.
      1. 0
        17 October 2019 10: 35
        Still like the A-91 under 5.56. Based on it, they recently made a competitor for ak-12 and aek, but he was the first to fly out of the competition.
    2. +3
      17 October 2019 08: 01
      In my opinion, the most normal and recognizable bullpup assault rifle we have is the OTs-14 "Thunderstorm". Adopted by the special forces.


      Here in full stuffing with a grenade launcher, scope, silencer.
      1. +12
        17 October 2019 08: 06
        Bad design. Typical direct obulpachivanie. Fire control, ejection of shell casings, weight distribution - everything is inconvenient.
        Plus a breakthrough of gases from the receiver in the face of the shooter. Bullpup must be designed from the ground up with all these factors in mind.
    3. +7
      17 October 2019 10: 43
      In Russia, it is not yet planned to develop small arms in the bullpup form factor, including because of its specific effect called "tavor-face" - the shooter's face smoked to a negroid state after firing a couple of magazines in automatic mode bully

      But the main reason for refusing a bullpup is a change in the balance of weapons in the process of firing a magazine, which negatively affects the accuracy of fire bursts.
  5. +2
    17 October 2019 07: 50
    Quote: Nycomed
    Does anyone here invent bullpup small arms?

    Probably inventing. I started with AK, my son continued, my grandson served with AK. Maybe the grandson, who is now 5, will see a bullpup, although I doubt that something is not quoted by the system.
  6. +2
    17 October 2019 08: 58
    The new machine will be presented in three main versions, equipped with different trunks.

    The standard cartridge, which is used by machine gunners, is equipped with a bullet with a steel core weighing 4,15 grams. A cartridge with a heavy long-range bullet was specially developed for machine guns and sniper rifles

    What can I say, well done Chinese. While everyone is talking about modularity, they have already adopted such a complex. In the department, everyone is armed with the same type of weapon, the same cartridges, but by replacing the barrels and cartridges, the compartment can be adapted to perform a specific task. Of course, this gives an advantage in battle.
    I don’t know about the bad cartridge. In my opinion, it is not worse than ours, and given that it is longer, there is the possibility of modernization. We are improving, and they can.
    In general, the United States is changing the arrow, the Chinese are changing, well, we at least introduce optics for everyone.
    1. 0
      18 October 2019 07: 51
      Quote: glory1974
      In the compartment, everyone is armed with the same type of weapon, with the same ammunition, but by replacing the barrels and cartridges, the compartment can be adapted to perform a specific task. Of course, this gives an advantage in battle.

      if you act from the place of basing, then theoretically yes, but in a modern maneuverable war, carrying all this pribluda on yourself for the "flexibility of use" of weapons, that is still hemorrhoids. For me, the current proven scheme of arming the squad with various types of weapons is much more practical.
      1. 0
        18 October 2019 08: 32
        but with modern maneuvering war, carrying all this pribluda on yourself for the "flexibility of use" of weapons, that's still hemorrhoids.

        Have you noticed a contradiction in your comment?
        You correctly say that the war is maneuverable, so there is no sense in carrying it around. Everything fits perfectly in the BTR (BMP) and lies, waiting in the wings.
        1. +1
          18 October 2019 09: 05
          Quote: glory1974
          Everything fits perfectly in the BTR (BMP) and lies, waiting in the wings.

          The personnel carrier with personal weapons and ammunition is placed in an armored personnel carrier / infantry fighting vehicle, there is no room for unused spare parts in the amount of 2-3 multiple weaponry there.
          1. 0
            18 October 2019 09: 15
            The personnel carrier with personal weapons and ammunition is placed in an armored personnel carrier / infantry fighting vehicle, there is no room for unused spare parts in the amount of 2-3 multiple weaponry there.

            On the carts in the First World War, there was also no place for the Bumblebee flamethrowers, because there were no Bumblebees at that time.
            Look at the Chinese BMP, and compare with ours. Then you can discuss if they have that place or not.
            By the way, in our armored personnel carriers (BMPs) there is a place not only for salvage and weapons, but also for ammunition, for personal items, and in practice both tents and a bed group are transported.
        2. +1
          18 October 2019 10: 20
          Quote: glory1974
          Have you noticed a contradiction in your comment?

          no
          Quote: glory1974
          Everything fits perfectly in the BTR (BMP) and lies, waiting in the wings.

          and armored personnel carriers (BMPs) they are so invincible and impenetrable, direct, eternal engines of war.
        3. 0
          6 January 2020 11: 04
          Quote: glory1974
          Everything fits perfectly in the BTR (BMP) and lies, waiting in the wings.

          Yeah, I got a grenade on board, and the whole compartment lost its weapons, offset. wink
    2. The comment was deleted.
      1. The comment was deleted.
        1. +1
          18 October 2019 09: 03
          in the Russian army there are spare trunks for machine guns

          Can you tell me where it is in the Russian army that they regularly remade machine guns into machine guns, sniper rifles and vice versa? And who stores and carries this pile of spare parts?
          Please tell us why a thick barrel, a magazine with a hundred rounds of ammunition, an optical sight and the ability to shoot effectively at 500 meters do not give advantages in combat over weapons without optics, with a magazine at 30 rounds and the possibility of effective shooting at 300 meters?

          Because the barrel does not shoot, the store and the same sight do not shoot. A pile of spare parts cannot fire at all. And now please tell me who will collect this pile of spare parts into the product in the field and lead to a normal battle, and where will the spare parts that are not currently used go and who will drag them?
          1. 0
            18 October 2019 09: 09
            Can you tell me which weapon the spare barrel is currently used for, where is it stored and who is carrying it?
          2. 0
            18 October 2019 09: 12
            Because the barrel does not shoot, the store and the same sight do not shoot. A pile of spare parts cannot fire at all.

            you surprise me once again. We have no trunks, shops and sights? Even a double-barreled shotgun has a barrel and a sight, not to mention the small arms. Vobschem is all blah blah blah.
            You have not answered my question.
  7. -5
    17 October 2019 09: 20
    Regarding the similarity of the Chinese machine with Heckler-Koch 416 for illustration.

    As the saying goes, the question is, who first started? smile
  8. +1
    17 October 2019 09: 34
    The big one is similar to the sig 550 / 556xi. Also, I must say that the Chinese already had a machine gun on the classic layout "qbz 03", it is quite possible that this is just a replacement for him.
  9. +2
    17 October 2019 10: 29
    The new American Sheffield cartridge 6,8x51 mm (developed as part of the NGSW-T program) with a bullet weighing 9,1 g, an initial speed of 975 m / s and a muzzle energy of 4300 J (designed to break through an armor-piercing bullet with a steel core SIBZ of the highest IV resistance level) steers laughing
    1. 0
      17 October 2019 11: 06
      For Marxists it may steers, but automatic hand-held fire is excluded.
      1. +3
        17 October 2019 11: 18
        The NGSW-A / AR program, which has been in force since 2018, involves the adoption of only the self-loading rifle (single fire) and a light machine gun (automatic fire) under the 6,8x51 mm cartridge for arming the US Army infantry, while both types of small arms must be equipped with tactical silencers that reduce a third recoil impulse (up to the firing level of a cartridge of 7,62x51 mm).

        The goal is to break through the ESAPI ceramic plate at a distance of 100 m (bullet with a hardened steel core) and 300 m (bullet with a uranium / tungsten core).
        1. 0
          17 October 2019 11: 30
          And what will they arm the rest with?
          1. +3
            17 October 2019 11: 37
            Army infantry squads - exclusively self-loading and handbrake. The Marine Corps has not yet been decided (the completion of the NGSW-R / AR competition is scheduled for 2021 year). Out of the competition, the participating companies have already demonstrated initiative-developed automatic carbines of the caliber 6,8xNUMX mm with a reduced barrel length and, accordingly, recoil, which can be used by paratroopers, tankmen, artillery, etc.
            1. 0
              17 October 2019 19: 29
              Quote: Operator
              reducing the recoil impulse by a third (to the level of firing of a cartridge 7,62x51 mm)

              To go nuts, what a small return)) With the same success, they can re-rearm on the M14, then new rifles and machine guns are not needed.
              I feel bent by amers this development as well as many similar to this one.

              Quote: Operator
              automatic carbines of 6,8x51 mm caliber with a reduced barrel length and, accordingly, recoil

              This is how it is with you, respectively, and the return has decreased then? In my opinion, with a short barrel, the mini flamethrower function for automatic shooting is also fun, of course it's cool but not very convenient))
              1. +4
                17 October 2019 19: 46
                The shorter the barrel, the lower the initial velocity of the bullet and, accordingly, the recoil momentum.

                The muzzle flame in the weapon models developed according to the TTS NGSW is absent even with a short barrel due to the use of quick-burning (almost pistol) gunpowder in the Sheffield cartridge, which develops pressure in the chamber of the order of 7000 atmospheres (compensated by high-strength steel of the barrel).
                1. +1
                  17 October 2019 20: 49
                  The fact that the muzzle flame is absent is a very bold statement that in the ejection from the barrel there may not be completely burnt powder, and hot gases will not go anywhere. With a decrease in barrel length, I don’t argue that the bullet’s speed decreases, but at the same time the pressure and speed of the powder gases leaving the bore increases, and the volume of the sleeve and, therefore, the rifle powder, i.e. big enough - so that the return can still increase, and what a rumble it will be! )). A short carbine on a rifle cartridge has even more problems than a Ksenia on a machine gun, and such a carbine itself with very problematic bursts of fire is full of crap.
                  1. +3
                    17 October 2019 21: 52
                    The speed of the powder gases and the sound of the shot are reduced in the standard silencer provided for in the NSWG program
                    1. 0
                      17 October 2019 22: 45
                      Shorten the barrel to reduce the dimensions and immediately attach a silencer to increase these dimensions back - it's just brilliant !!! And the silencer on the carbine firing 9 gram bullets at a speed of more than 900 m / s is not a good idea. Plus gunpowder like in a rifle cartridge - is it interesting that such a muffler turns into a red-hot stove with one or two horns?
                      1. +2
                        17 October 2019 23: 20
                        What do you want from overseas gunsmiths laughing
                      2. 0
                        17 October 2019 23: 34
                        The silencer works fine. It may not be suitable for James Bond, but the noise level reduces, at least not to injure the shooter. Have to shoot ak74 indoors? And what to shorten, then to lengthen, and what other options are there: a long silencer on a long barrel, so that it’s like an infantry mosquito with a bayonet? The other thing bothers me more, equipping everyone except machine gunners with non-automatic weapons - something like neogon. The warriors will not go for it, IMHO.
                      3. +1
                        17 October 2019 23: 54
                        Or maybe they will? )))

                        After all, after WWII, the Americans, with their national love for accurate and long-range shooting, bent the Europeans to accept the cartridge 7,62x51, although the British (and, it seems, someone else) had a pretty good intermediate cartridge. And then in full crap in Vietnam when they began to water from the Kalash.

                        Now Iraq and Afghanistan - here 6,8x51 looks good at first glance, well, if you do not get into cleaning cities. These are all kinds of marketers and they are pushing the next child prodigy - the main thing now is to cut the dough, why think that later the soldiers may have to fight with these rifles somewhere in East Asia or South America.

                        So we chew popcorn and see if the stripes in the second round get off or not.
                      4. 0
                        18 October 2019 00: 08
                        Yes, it’s clear that the silencer somehow works but the point is that the carbine on a rifle cartridge with a silencer loses its main advantage - bullet speed and dimensions, i.e. in terms of characteristics it will not surpass the machine, while retaining its drawbacks - recoil (firing in bursts is very doubtful), less ammunition, quick overheating of this muffler. So what is a miracle compared to the usual machine gun is garbage, and if we consider only for cleaning buildings that is better, compared to which it is better to throw it out and forget it.
            2. 0
              20 October 2019 22: 43
              It looks like the tactics of the Wehrmacht started the Second World War, when the whole department "worked" for the machine gunner.
    2. 0
      18 October 2019 08: 12
      A rake called M14 haunt them?
  10. 0
    19 October 2019 09: 58
    The assault rifle cannot call QBZ-191, since the names of the Chinese assault rifles are deciphered as a light automatic rifle of the sample (Type) of such and such a year when it was officially adopted. That is, for example, QBZ-95 is a 1995 automatic machine (Type 95), and in this case, in case of modification, a digit is added through a hyphen, as in the case of QBZ-95-1.
    That is, the new machine can be called QBZ-19 or QBZ-19-1, but not QBZ-191
  11. 0
    19 October 2019 12: 10
    The more remotely controlled weapons, the clearer the desire to lighten the infantryman .. But ..
    The battle can go not only in the city. but also in the conditions of the steppe, deserts and plains.
    The Americans have in the Marxman branch, apparently the Chinese, also adjusted their units.
  12. 0
    17 February 2021 18: 49
    Quote: 3danimal

    The future of developed countries is fully professional armies, which should be better equipped than extras-conscripts.

    ------------------
    Yes !? laughing
    And what about the IDF?
    One of the most efficient armies in the world, but - completely from the "extras-conscripts".

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