XT-97 Assault Rifle

The XT97 assault rifle (5.56公釐XT97突擊步槍) is an advanced multipurpose 5.56mm assault rifle developed by the 205th Armory, Ministry of National Defense in Taiwan.[1] It was first displayed in public during the 2009 Taipei Aerospace & Defense Technology Exhibition.

XT97
The XT-97 assault rifle
TypeAssault rifle
Place of origin Taiwan
Production history
Designed2008
Manufacturer205th Arsenal
ProducedTBD
Specifications
Mass4 kg (excluding magazine)
Length850 mm (stock extended)
770 mm (stock retracted)
580 mm (stock folded)
Barrel length370 mm
Cartridge5.56×45mm NATO
9×19mm Parabellum
ActionGas-operated, rotating bolt
Rate of fire850 rpm
Effective firing range600 m
Feed systemVarious STANAG Magazines.
SightsVarious optical sights on Picatinny railing.
Folding front and rear backup iron sights.
XT97 on the right

Design

The weapon is designed in Taiwan by Taiwanese scientists. The design departs significantly from the T65 assault rifle lineage with the bolt being based on the AK design. The stock is both retractable and foldable.[2] Any optical scope/sight can be placed on the picatinny rails.[3]

Intended users of the XT97 rifle include infantry, airborne, marines, artillery, and mechanized/motorized vehicle crew.

No figures have been released on volume production.[4]

Variants

XT105

The XT105 is a refined version of the XT97 released in 2015, the first unit off of the production line was gold plated.[4] It features interchangeable 300mm, 360mm, and 450mm barrels.[5] The upper receiver is made from a single piece of extruded aluminum and the lower receiver is made of polymer. The stock features holes which can hold the rifle’s takedown pins during field stripping.[2]

XT107

The XT107 is a refined version of the XT105 released in 2017. It is optimized for urban warfare, counterterrorism, and close quarters combat.[6]

References
  1. Matt Schrader, Ned Collins-Chase, David An. "Taiwan's Indigenous Defense Industry: Centralized Control of Abundant Suppliers" (PDF). globaltaiwan.org. Global Taiwan Institute. Retrieved 16 July 2019.
  2. "Exclusive: Taiwan's Latest Type XT Prototype Rifle". www.thefirearmblog.com. The Firearms Blog. Retrieved 16 July 2019.
  3. https://web.archive.org/web/20111007225852/http://news.gpwb.gov.tw/newsgpwb_2009/news.php?css=2&rtype=2&nid=100355
  4. F, Nathaniel. "Taiwan Unveils New XT-105 Rifle". www.thefirearmblog.com. The Firearms Blog. Retrieved 16 July 2019.
  5. "Taiwan Unveils Multi-Purpose Assault Rifle". www.defenseworld.net. Defense World. Retrieved 16 July 2019.
  6. "Taiwan unveils new XT107 assault rifle". defence-blog.com. Defense Blog. Retrieved 16 July 2019.
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