The Chinese military initiated the development of conventional-layout service rifles in 2014, with multiple manufacturers involved in the development and bidding process. Various prototypes of the new weapon platform were leaked online in 2016 and 2017.[9][10]
The QBZ-191 rifle was designed by Norinco's 208 Research Institute,[1] which also designed the bullpupQBZ-95 assault rifle. According to the director of the 208 Research Institute, QBZ-191 is a component of the new "Integrated Soldier Combat System" (单兵综合作战系统), which aims to overhaul the PLA's infantry equipment.[2]
The QBZ-191 was first announced in the 2019 Chinese national parade and would gradually replace the QBZ-95 rifle family in Chinese military service. The QBZ-191 features several improvements, aiming to resolve the unsatisfactory issues, such as ergonomics, of the Type 95 platform.[9][3] It was reported since 2021 that the QBZ-191 would eventually replace the QBZ-95 and QBZ-03 in PLA service.[11]
Since August 2023, Chinese special forces units use the QBZ-192[12] with armored infantry units following suit.[13]
In August 2024, Thailand reportedly was the first nation to acquire the QBZ-195T for Thai special forces, based on their experience from interactions with Chinese soldiers in joint exercises including “Assault-2023” and “Blue Assault-2023".[14] It was reported that the QBZ-195T had superior performance to the M4 and M16A4 rifles.[15] This is part of Thai efforts to diversify sources of military hardware.[16]
Design
Compared to the bullpup QBZ-95, the QBZ-191 uses a conventional configuration similar to the QBZ-03, with greatly improved ergonomics, ambidextrous usability, and better reliability across different environments.[9] The platform features various barrel lengths and handguard configurations. A shorter carbine version was carried by vehicle crews during the 2019 parade.[17]
The rifle has improved ergonomics, modularity and customization options, featuring a 4-position adjustable buttstock, ambidextrous fire selector, and a lengthened magazine release lever located in front of the trigger guard for speed-reloading or easier manipulation when wearing gloves. The new polymer magazine has a redesigned surface texture for better grip and a transparent ammunition-checking window.[2] The handguard has provisions at its 3, 6 and 9 o'clock positions, which allow small sections of Picatinny rails to be selectively installed through screw holes, so that various accessories such as flashlight, laser module, foregrip and bipod can be attached.[9][3] The weapon platform can also be mounted with bayonets, suppressors, and under-barrel grenade launchers.[3]
According to Chinese media, the QBZ-191 rifle is chambered in the Chinese-proprietary 5.8×42mm caliber with a redesigned DBP-191 ammunition that has better ballistic performance at medium to long ranges.[20][21] The rifle has been designed into three variants: a standard rifle version with a 368.3 mm (14.5 in) barrel, a carbine version with a 266.7 mm (10.5 in) barrel called QBZ-192, and a long-barreled DMR version called the QBU-191.[22] The standard QBZ-191 has a full-auto rate of fire of 750 rounds per minute.[citation needed] The full-auto capability is retained on the QBU-191 designated marksman rifle, which could be easily configured into a light support weapon with a drum magazine.
Along with the weapon, new accessories were also developed as part of the program, including laser sights, flashlight mounts, optics, foregrips, and magazines. Unlike its predecessor—the QBZ-95—the QBZ-191 uses the Picatinny railintegration system, thus making the use of the former's modified dovetail rail-mounted sights incompatible without an additional mount. The weapon is able to feed from the 30-round QBZ-95 and QBZ-95-1 magazines,[4] which was commonly present on prototypes,[9] and from the 75-round magazines of the QJB-95 (QBB-95) and QJB-95-1light support weapons.[4] A more transparent design and a diamond pattern has been reported, similar to the magazines of the Heckler & Koch G36, commonly used on QBU-191 rifles.[18][4] Included in the development program, there is also a foregrip developed for the QBZ-191, which includes a bipod design on the bottom surface and an integrated laser.[3]
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