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T91 (Type 91)

2003 MODERN

History of the T91 (Type 91)

The development of the Taiwan Army's standard service rifle began with the T65 in 1976, evolved into the T86 in 2000, and finally peaked in the T91 in 2003. The T65 proved as the first indigenous Taiwanese design initiative, building on the successful Armalite/M16 series and incorporating changes adapted to the local military. The T86 was designed to modernize the quality of the T65, but production proved to be limited (under 5,000 units). However, the T86 program helped spur a new line of assault rifles, known to the Taiwanese military as the T91.

The T91 was developed in 2002 and quickly put into production in 2003. As of this writing (2013), production is still in progress and over 140,000 units have been distributed. As with the previous brand, production of the T91 rifle will be handled by the Combined Services 205th Armory.

Externally, the T91 follows the same M16-inspired design as the original T65. The receiver retains the same overall look, including the one-piece pistol grip, trigger assembly and magazine catch, as well as the T-shaped reload handle on the rear of the upper receiver. One of the main differences of the T91 is the installation of a six-position retractable stock. There is also greater support for tactical gear, utilizing rails included in the front end. The barrel is shorter than the original T65 and has a more compact profile (the foldable stock helps with the smaller profile).

Like the T86 before it, the T91 uses a four-position selector switch for safety, single-shot, burst and fully automatic fire modes. The included iron sight is adjustable, and the optics are carried along the top receiver (instead of the standard carry handle). The T91 is fed from a standard 30-round arc magazine and also supports a variety of STANAG types.

Notably, a bottom-mounted 40mm single-shot grenade launcher will be supported.

The T91 is loaded with 5.56x45mm NATO cartridges and fired via a pneumatic rotating bolt function. The rate of fire is higher than previous designs, 800 to 850 rounds per minute. The total weight is 3.17kg and the barrel length is 880mm.

When the stock is fully folded, this length is reduced to 800mm. The barrel size is 406 mm. The muzzle velocity is 975 meters per second, and the effective range is up to 600 meters under ideal conditions. The maximum range is correspondingly wider.

At the time of writing (2013), the T91 is designated as the official replacement for all previous Taiwanese service rifle brands. The weapon has also been successfully exported to Bosnia and Herzegovina, Indonesia, India, Jordan, Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates.

The T91 is a reliable alternative for operators looking for a NATO-friendly M16-style weapon, rather than a competing global design inspired by the Soviet AK-47. The T91 is comparable to the M16A2 model.