Local news reports that the Republic of China (Taiwan)’s Army has placed an order for 25,000 new T112 service rifles. The first batch of T112 service rifles is due for delivery in 2025, formerly unveiled as the XT112 the rifle has been in development for several years. The XT112 was unveiled in September 2023 at the TADTE defence show in Taipei.

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The new rifle will augment and replace the current 5.56x45mm T91 carbine, which entered service in 2003. Like the T91, and the T65 before it, the T112 is a gas-operated weapon with a rotating bolt. Development reportedly began in 2020 at Taiwan’s 205th Arsenal of the Armaments Bureau which specialises in small arms development.

Taiwan’s XT112 on display at the 2023 Taipei International Aerospace and Defense Industry Exhibition (via Kglrf429/wikimedia commons)

The new T112 is ambidextrous and has a fire control group with a selector with settings for safe, semi, two-round burst and fully automatic. The exterior of the rifle’s receiver is reminiscent of contemporary AR-pattern rifles with a Magpul SL-style adjustable stock and an M-LOK handguard with a full-length 12 o’clock Picatinny rail. The rifle reportedly weighs around 3.5 kg or 7.7 lbs.

T112 with TS112 close combat optic (via Central News Agency/Wu Shuwei)

The rifle was recently displayed equipped with a Trijicon ACOG-style sight designated the TS112 and is described as a ‘close combat scope’. It also had a set of backup iron sights, a grip-pod style foregrip and a locally manufactured laser/light module. Lieutenant Li Jianting, a system analyst of the T112 combat rifle, told Taiwan’s Central News Agency that the average dispersion area of ​​the T112 combat rifle at 100 meters is 9.8cm or 3.8 inches. A contract for the rifle is forthcoming as funding for the procurement is secured in the next budget.

12.7x99mm T112 (via CNA)

Confusingly, Taiwan’s 205th Arsenal have also developed a new bolt-action rifle, also called the T112. The new T112 sniper rifle has a folding stock and weighs in at 12 kg (or 26.4 lbs), the rifle has a 10-round magazine and is chambered in a 12.7x99mm cartridge and has a reported effective range of 2,000 meters (2,200 yards). This will augment the Barrett M82A1s currently in service with Taiwan’s special forces and the array of bolt action 7.62x51mm rifles currently in service including Taiwan’s T93 and T108 rifles.

H/t – @EVostox