Taiwan Army Develops 6.8mm Rifle, to Begin Testing by End of Year

The Taiwan Ministry of National Defense has developed a new 6.8mm rifle, which is expected to undergo testing by the end of this year.

The U.S. military shifted towards 6.8mm rifles under the "Next Generation Squad Weapons (NGSW)" program recently.

The new rifle is considered more powerful than the 5.56mm T112 combat rifle, which Taiwan has been mass-producing. The Ministry has invested over 8.1 billion yuan in the procurement of the T112 rifles, which are scheduled to be issued to frontline units starting next year. The T112 uses 5.56×45mm NATO-standard ammunition, while the new 6.8mm rifle is positioned as a more powerful alternative with a balance between firepower and weight.

The Taiwan Army currently fields various rifles, including the T91, which also uses 5.56mm ammunition. Larger-caliber rifles, such as light sniper rifles using 7.62mm bullets and heavy sniper rifles using 12.7mm rounds, are also part of the arsenal. The introduction of the 6.8mm rifle is seen as a middle ground between the 5.56mm and 7.62mm calibers.

Development of the 6.8mm rifle was completed at the end of 2023, with 10 units slated to be delivered to military services for evaluation by December 2024. The rifle weighs 3.7 kg, with a 20-round magazine capacity, making it heavier than the T91 rifle, but the design aims to enhance the combat effectiveness of the troops. The rifle is still under evaluation, and specific details on its final configuration remain open to discussion.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of National Defense has outlined plans to replace existing T112 rifles in the coming years. A budget of 8.16564 million yuan has been allocated for new firearms purchases from 2024 to 2029. The total number of rifles to be acquired by the army, military police, and reserve forces is expected to reach 86,114.