Type Assault rifle Manufacturer 205th Armory | Designed 2008 Produced TBD | |
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Place of origin Taiwan (Republic of China) Weight 4 kg (excluding magazine) | ||
The XT97 assault rifle (Chinese: 5.56公釐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.