There are around 100 countries in the world that have armies with elite special forces units capable of carrying out special operations, tasks, and missions. While the United States is considered to have some of the most effective and elite special forces units in the world, other nations have built up comparable units. China is one, and the number of its special forces has ballooned over the past few decades.
Chinese special forces, known as the People’s Liberation Army Special Operations Forces, employ a range of locally and foreign-manufactured weapons tailored to their specific operational needs, like many other special forces around the world. A majority of these guns are produced in-house by Chinese arms manufacturers, primarily China North Industries Corporation and China South Industries Group. Despite being produced in-house, these guns use a range of ammunition that is produced both domestically and internationally, everything from NATO to Russian rounds. (These are China’s 8 biggest weapons manufacturers and what they build.)
24/7 Wall St. reviewed a catalog of weapons used by the Chinese Special Forces produced by Military Factory, an online database of military vehicles, aircraft, and arms, to determine the guns used by Chinese Special Forces. We removed similar guns and guns that are believed to no longer be in use by the Chinese Special Forces and ranked the rest according to when they entered service. Supplemental data on the type of weapon, maximum effective range, and the caliber used by each gun also came from Military Factory.
Chinese Special Forces’ principal firearms encompass a variety of categories, from assault rifles to submachine guns. The QBB-95 and QBZ-03 series of assault rifles are examples of China’s domestically developed small arms, both manufactured by NORINCO and chambered for 5.56x45mm NATO rounds. Both of these guns also allow for the integration of modular components so operators can customize their weapons for specific mission requirements.
Submachine guns like the QCW-05 make up another part of the arsenal. Designed for close-quarters combat and special operations, these compact firearms provide operatives with a lightweight option for stealthy engagements. Their compact size and suppressed firing make them suitable for undercover and covert operations where minimizing noise and visibility are crucial. (Also see, the 30 guns used by Delta Force.)
Here are 26 Guns that the Chinese Special Forces Use
26. Dragunov SVD
Source: zim286 / iStock via Getty Images
- Year entered service: 1963
- Type: Designated marksman rifle
- Maximum effective range: 4,265 ft.
- Caliber: 7.62x54mmR Soviet
- Manufacturer: Izhmash, NORINCO
25. FB PM-63 RAK
- Year entered service: 1965
- Type: Submachine gun
- Maximum effective range: 492 ft.
- Caliber: 9×19 Parabellum
- Manufacturer: Lucznik Arms, NORINCO
24. HK MP5
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
- Year entered service: 1966
- Type: Submachine gun
- Maximum effective range: 660 ft.
- Caliber: 9×19 parabellum
- Manufacturer: Heckler & Koch
23. Type 67
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
- Year entered service: 1967
- Type: Light machine gun
- Maximum effective range: 2,952 ft.
- Caliber: 7.62x54mmR
- Manufacturer: NORINCO
22. KBP AGS-17 Plamya
- Year entered service: 1970
- Type: Automatic grenade launcher
- Maximum effective range: 5,741 ft.
- Caliber: 30x19mm
- Manufacturer: NORINCO
21. Type 69
- Year entered service: 1970
- Type: Rocket-propelled grenade launcher
- Maximum effective range: 655 ft.
- Caliber: 40mm
- Manufacturer: NORINCO
20. CZ75 Phantom
- Year entered service: 1976
- Type: Semi-automatic service pistol
- Maximum effective range: 164 ft.
- Caliber: 9×19 Parabellum
- Manufacturer: Ceska Zbrojovka
19. GP-25 / GP-30 GL
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- Year entered service: 1978
- Type: Muzzle-loaded grenade launcher
- Maximum effective range: 1,312 ft.
- Caliber: 40mm
- Manufacturer: KBP Instrument Design Bureau
18. Type 64
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
- Year entered service: 1980
- Type: Silenced semi-automatic pistol
- Maximum effective range: 115 ft.
- Caliber: 7.62x17mm
- Manufacturer: NORINCO
17. Type 81
- Year entered service: 1983
- Type: Assault rifle
- Maximum effective range: 920 ft.
- Caliber: 7.62x39mm
- Manufacturer: NORINCO
16. HJ-8
- Year entered service: 1985
- Type: Anti-tank guided missile
- Maximum effective range: 14,760 ft.
- Caliber: 120mm
- Manufacturer: NORINCO
15. QBU-88
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
- Year entered service: 1988
- Type: Sniper rifle
- Maximum effective range: 2,624 ft.
- Caliber: 5.56x45mm NATO
- Manufacturer: NORINCO
14. QBB-95
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
- Year entered service: 1997
- Type: Assault rifle
- Maximum effective range: 2,300 ft.
- Caliber: 5.56x45mm NATO
- Manufacturer: NORINCO
13. QSZ-92
- Year entered service: 1998
- Type: Semi-automatic service pistol
- Maximum effective range: 164 ft.
- Caliber: 9×19 Parabellum
- Manufacturer: NORINCO
12. CNPMIEC FeiNn-6
- Year entered service: 1999
- Type: Man-portable air defense system
- Maximum effective range: 12,464 ft.
- Caliber: 72mm
- Manufacturer: China National Precision Machinery
11. QJY-88
- Year entered service: 1999
- Type: General purpose machine gun
- Maximum effective range: 2,955 ft.
- Caliber: 5.8x42mm HV
- Manufacturer: NORINCO
10. QBZ-03
- Year entered service: 2003
- Type: Assault rifle
- Maximum effective range: 1,475 ft.
- Caliber: 5.56x45mm NATO
- Manufacturer: NORINCO
9. QCW-05
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
- Year entered service: 2005
- Type: Suppressed submachine gun
- Maximum effective range: 985 ft.
- Caliber: 5.8x21mm
- Manufacturer: China South Industries Group
8. Zijiang M99
Source: ÐлекÑÐ°Ð½Ð´Ñ Ð¡ÐµÐ¼ÐµÐ½Ð¾Ð² / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
- Year entered service: 2005
- Type: Anti-material rifle
- Maximum effective range: 5,000 ft.
- Caliber: 12.7x108mm
- Manufacturer: Zijiang Machinery
7. JS 9
- Year entered service: 2006
- Type: Silenced submachine gun
- Maximum effective range: 410 ft.
- Caliber: 9×19 Parabellum
- Manufacturer: China South Industries Group
6. QSW-06
Source: Kevin Frayer / Getty Images
- Year entered service: 2006
- Type: Suppressed semi-automatic pistol
- Maximum effective range: 165 ft.
- Caliber: 5.8x21mm
- Manufacturer: NORINCO
5. QX-04
Source: Feng Li / Getty Images
- Year entered service: 2011
- Type: Semi-automatic service pistol
- Maximum effective range: 165 ft.
- Caliber: 9×19 Parabellum
- Manufacturer: China South Industries Group
4. LG3
Source: Kevin Frayer / Getty Images
- Year entered service: 2011
- Type: Automatic grenade launcher
- Maximum effective range: 7,215 ft.
- Caliber: 40x53mm
- Manufacturer: NORINCO
3. LG4
Source: Photo by Kevin Frayer / Getty Images
- Year entered service: 2011
- Type: Multiple grenade launcher
- Maximum effective range: 1,235 ft.
- Caliber: 40x53mm
- Manufacturer: NORINCO
2. CS/LR4
- Year entered service: 2012
- Type: Bolt-action sniper rifle
- Maximum effective range: 3,610 ft.
- Caliber: 7.62x51mm NATO
- Manufacturer: NORINCO
1. NSG-85
- Year entered service: 2014
- Type: Designated marksman rifle
- Maximum effective range: 2,625 ft.
- Caliber: 7.62x54mmR
- Manufacturer: NORINCO
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