Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense announced on September 15, 2023, at the Taipei Aerospace & Defense Industry Exhibition, that the XT112 rifle, designed to replace existing military firearms, is on track for completion by the end of the year. The Armaments Bureau confirmed that the rifle, entirely engineered and manufactured in Taiwan, boasts several enhancements over its predecessors, the T91 and T65K2 models.
The barrel of the XT112 is more robust than those of the T91 and T65K2, contributing to its superior accuracy. According to Lee, the XT112 achieves shot groupings of 9.8 cm at a 100-meter range, compared to the T91’s 14.5 cm at the same distance. The weapon features four firing modes: safety, semi-automatic, two-shot bursts, and fully automatic. It is also chambered in 5.56mm and comes with a 30-round magazine.
The XT112 also introduces ergonomic improvements. Features like the selector lever, magazine release button, and cocking handle latch are ambidextrous, offering easy access for both left-handed and right-handed users. In contrast, these controls were one-sided on earlier models. Moreover, the rifle’s rail mount complies with international standards, providing greater flexibility for attaching accessories. Users can now mount grenade launchers, sights, and laser aiming modules at various points along the rail, unlike the fixed positions available on previous models.