QJZ-89
A Chinese heavy machine gun lighter than its Russian counterpart.
The QJZ-89, also known as the Type 89 heavy machine gun, is a Chinese-designed heavy machine gun chambered for the Soviet 12.7×108mm ammunition. It is notable for its exceptionally light system weight, achieved after a development process influenced by a translation error regarding the Soviet NSV machine gun.
Quick Facts
- Origin
- China
- Is Ranged
- yes
- Manufacturer
- Norinco
- Weight
- 17.5 kg (gun only) / 8.5 kg (tripod)
- Length
- 1640 mm (gun only) / 2119 mm (with tripod)
- Part Length
- 1003 mm
- Cartridge
- 12.7×108mm
- Caliber
- 12.7mm
- Barrels
- 1
- Action
- Direct gas impingement
- Rate
- 450-600 rounds/min
- Velocity
- 850 m/s
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
In the early 1980s, Chinese firearms designers received scattered information from Soviet publications about the Soviet Union's adoption of the NSV machine gun. A translation error led them to believe the 25 kg figure referred to the entire system weight, when it actually described only the gun. Astonished by this apparent capability, Chinese designers began developing a comparable weapon. Only after development concluded did they realize the 25 kg weight did not include the tripod. The resulting QJZ-89, with gun and tripod together weighing only 26 kg, is even lighter than the 32 kg Russian Kord machine gun on a bipod mount. China has reportedly developed 12.7 mm armor piercing discarding sabot (APDS) ammunition for the QJZ-89, similar to the U.S. saboted light armor penetrator (SLAP) rounds, increasing performance against light armored vehicles.
Reader's Guide
The QJZ-89's significance lies in its remarkably low system weight of 26 kg, which makes it lighter than the Russian Kord machine gun on a bipod mount (32 kg). This weight advantage stems from a design process initiated by a translation error that misrepresented the NSV's weight. The weapon's development reflects how misinterpreted intelligence can drive innovation, resulting in a system that exceeded the original target. Its use of 12.7×108mm ammunition and reported development of APDS rounds similar to U.S. SLAP ammunition enhances its anti-armor capability. The QJZ-89 has been observed mounted on Dongfeng EQ2050 vehicles during a Mongolian State Flag Day parade, and it is also used by the United Wa State Army, a non-state actor. The weapon's legacy includes its place among Chinese heavy machine gun designs such as the Type 77, W85, and QJZ-171, and it is often compared to the M2 Browning, XM312, and Kord machine gun.
Did You Know?
- The QJZ-89's development was sparked by a translation error that misread the NSV's 25 kg gun-only weight as the whole system weight.
- The gun and tripod together weigh only 26 kg, lighter than the 32 kg Russian Kord machine gun on a bipod.
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