What from his post makes you think that?
PLA Small arms
- Thread starter Vanguard1688
- Start date
What from his post makes you think that?
The interview didn't confirm it but it would be strange to showcase non service rifles for a National Day parade. Has it been done before? Export only firearms I'm aware are failed proposals to law enforcement like the LA-K12 shotgun, or clones for civilian foreign markets.
SinoSoldier
Colonel
It was more of a question rather than a conclusion. The post mentions that multiple assault rifles plus the PLA's next-gen rifle would be revealed, which sort of suggests that the others have either been rejected or at best in limited service (which could make them candidates for export designation).
Apologies I misquoted that. OedoSoldier stated 'a variety guns' and I first thought new rifles. It should be multiple firearms, maybe along the lines that include new sidearms, SAW, DMR, sniper rifle, or rifle family. Perhaps prototypes as well during expos or documentaries on that year.
Tyloe's post said that the new service rifle + various other new rifles would be shown.
That is to say, the other rifles would likely not be assault rifles but other newly designed rifles of various other roles, would be shown. The idea that they would show rejected firearms in a parade or for any sort of occasion is not logical.
That said the original Chinese passage is a bit obscure as well so I'm not sure what exactly it is saying. But using common sense, I think the possiblity of them showing any rejected rifle designs is very low, and I'm confused as to why that would be considered possible in the first place.
SinoSoldier
Colonel
Yeah, thanks for the update.
If it refers to a variety of "guns" rather than the specific term "assault rifle", then disregard my previous assumption.
Needless to say, though, it wouldn't be the first time that the PLA has shown 'rejected' weaponry during parades. The Type 98 MBT was a pretty significant example and was shown in 1999.
Considering the ZTZ98 was an (early) incarnation of the ZTZ99 and was still in PLA trials at the time, I don't consider that to fulfill the situation you described, which was suggesting that rifles which had already been rejected would be shown at a parade or ceremony.
It is very possible that they might show new rifles which are still under trial which may evolve into further derivatives or even potentially be rejected in the future after they are shown, but I consider it very unlikely that they would show a rifle that the PLA had already rejected before the parade or ceremony.
MwRYum
Major
First thing that need answering is that when was that interview took place?
Next, there has been lots of talk about new service rifle and even exploring new caliber, but no way to know which one got green light and which one got dropped due to lack of traction...if lucky, some may show up in next year's Norinco export catalogue.
MwRYum
Major
It wasn't "rejected" at that time, and eventhough it did got canned later, it still became the basis for the ZTZ99 series. And considering what happened earlier that year - some "clerical error" (which no Chinese really buy that story to this day, BTW) led to five 2000lb JDAM slammed dead-on at Chinese embassy in Belgrade - Beijing really needs a lot of stuff that's "not the old and tired junks" for the parade, and that's why you have Type 98 MBT.Yeah, thanks for the update.
If it refers to a variety of "guns" rather than the specific term "assault rifle", then disregard my previous assumption.
Needless to say, though, it wouldn't be the first time that the PLA has shown 'rejected' weaponry during parades. The Type 98 MBT was a pretty significant example and was shown in 1999.
Since then, China tends to stick to parade stuff already in service, fortunately for them new stuff exploded onto the scene since 2000...except for the "Chinese Multicam" BDU seen in the 2015 parade - that seems to be a one-off deal, sad really.
Back to topic...in terms of small arms, the Chinese doesn't have a habit to show off "parade-only" show-piece so far, Type 03 AR was indeed saw limited adoption with the airborne formations, but nothing beyond that. Besides, even if the new AR series move away from bullpup that's equally fine as well - just look at France's recent decision to adopt HK416F to replace FAMAS in general service...can't imagine the blow that the famous French pride have to suffer in all this, adopting a "Yankee gun" that's made by Germany, ouch...
