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NORINCO QBB-95 (Type 95)

1997 MODERN

History

The QBZ-95 is currently (2017) the standard assault rifle of the People's Liberation Army (PLA), and its design forms the basis for a range of related weapons. Its Light Support Weapon (LSW) form is the QBB-95, and the system retains the same bullpup layout with feed and action concentrated at the rear of the length.

This allows the use of a full length barrel without much additional overall length. This creates a modular family of weapons with a high degree of commonality between them - a weapon designed for a variety of characters on the battlefield.

Production of the QBB-95 began in 1995, but the weapon was first observed in 1997.

The QBB-95 is for the domestic 5.8x42mm cartridge developed for the Chinese military in the 1980s. It is a medium rifle cartridge comparable to the US 5.56x45mm NATO cartridge. A short-stroke, pneumatic, rotating bolt system provides the firing action, and reloading is also carried out from a 30-round detachable magazine supported by a 75-round drum.

Due to the bullpup configuration, the feeding occurs behind the pistol grip and trigger assembly. Standard accessories such as the long tube handle and sighting device are located above the weapon casing.

The barrel extends far from the forearm and is closed by a slotted flash suppressor/compensator. The muzzle velocity of the projectile is 3,180 feet per second, and the effective range is between 600 and 800 yards.

As a Light Support Weapon (LSW), this product is intended for use at the squad level to provide substantial firepower while promoting a compact footprint. The 5.8mm cartridge has a slightly heavier design compared to the 5.56mm cartridge, and it provides good penetration while the older 5.56mm cartridge has slightly improved mid- and long-range effectiveness.

As such, the QBB-95 plays an important role in infantry operations, especially in urban environments where the range is more limited but can be extended to cover blocks.

A variant of the QBB-95 series is the QBB-97, chambered for 5.56x45mm NATO, mainly for export. Current (2017) QBB-95 operators outside of China include Cambodia and Sri Lanka.