DI MA-1 Mk. III
- Bullpup assault rifle (MA-1 Mk. III)
- Bullpup light machine gun (MA-2 Mk. III)
- Bullpup carbine (MA-3 Mk. III)
- Hooded post front sight and aperture rear sight (Standard)
- Y/MA 95-002 telescopic sight (Optional)
The DI MA-1 Mk. III is a family of bullpup assault rifles made by the Myanmar Directorate of Defence Industries, chambered for 5.56×45mm NATO, based on the QBZ-97s that were exported to Myanmar in 2009.[3][4] The MA-1 Mk. IIIs were made without any licensing agreements with China, and Myanmar claimed that they were made without foreign assistance.[5][6]
The DI designation on the weapon refers to Defence Industry (of the Myanmar Directorate of Defence Industries),[7] while the MA designation means Myanmar Army.[8]
History
Myanmar decided to redesign a bullpup rifle after Tatmadaw troops reported multiple failures with the EMER-K1, an earlier bullpup rifle clone of the QBZ-97, ranging from gun jams to stoppages.[9] At the time, some of them were issued to Tatmadaw forces on patrol duties at the Yadana gas field in 1998.[10][9] Myanmar originally wanted to acquire QBZ-97s and eventually set up a production line to manufacture them on their own, but China refused to honor them due to arms sanctions against the State Peace and Development Council.[9][3] Subsequently, the QBZ-97s previously sold to Myanmar were not returned.[1]
The QBZ-97 rifles with Myanmar were reverse engineered again; they did not seek Chinese assistance in creating the MA-1 Mk. IIIs.[6][5] During analysis of the rifles in 2009,[4] they were reported to be suitable for the Tatmadaw in jungle operations.[11]
The MA-1 Mk. IIIs were first shown in public in 2012.[12] They were subsequently shown at various Tatmadaw Armed Forces Day parades.[13]
Plans were made to fully adopt the MA-1 Mk. III by 2016, but it was delayed due to quality issues.[11] At the time, it was reported that the MA-1 Mk. IIIs had poor reliability in the field.[14] Chinese media criticized Myanmar for cloning the QBZ-97 without permission after the rifle was publicly revealed.[15]
In 2020, Myanma social media photos showed an improved version of the MA-3 Mk. III, implying that production issues were mostly resolved.[16]
Design
According to the Special Advisory Council for Myanmar (SAC-M), the rifle family is reportedly being manufactured at DDI's KaPaSa 22 factory.[7]
While the MA-1 Mk. III has visual similarities with the QBZ-97, the difference lies with the use of phenolic plastic materials instead of engineered plastics, which gives off the brown finish.[5][17] Another difference is the shape of the handguard and the vent holes on it.[18]
The MA-1 Mk. IIIs do not use the same Type 95 bayonet made for the QBZ-95.[19][20] Instead, the Tatmadaw uses a clone of the Type 81 bayonet for the rifles.[5] Only the MA-1/3 Mk. III have bayonet lugs installed as a default option.[11]
There were unconfirmed reports that Myanmar sought the assistance of Singaporean defense companies in order to improve on the manufacture of the MA-1 Mk. III[17] by secretly acquiring machinery for the factories.[14] This supposedly resulted in the improvement of using engineered plastics and the rifle's design.[17] For the MA-3 Mk. III, some of the more recently made carbines have carry handles that have a more rectangular shape, more ergonomic front handguard and vent holes, making it resemble the QBZ-97.[21]
Variants
MA-1 Mk. III
The standard assault rifle variant based on the QBZ-97.[22]
MA-2 Mk. III
The light machine gun variant with a long barrel and a bipod.[23]
MA-3 Mk. III
A carbine variant.[24] Known to be used by Myanma special forces units.[25]
MA-4 Mk. III
A variant of the MA-1 Mk. III equipped with an underbarrel grenade launcher.[26] It is also known to be used by Myanmar special forces units.[25]
Users
- Myanmar: Used by the Tatmadaw.[24] This includes the Myanmar Navy SEALs.[27]
Notes
- ^ Minor adaptions were made to the original Chinese design.
References
- ^ a b "China's Next Generation Bullpup: Type 95". 29 November 2017. Archived from the original on 2018-08-03. Retrieved 2018-08-03.
- ^ "MA-1 Mk.3". Military Today. Archived from the original on 2023-11-18. Retrieved 2024-06-22.
- ^ a b "菲军警接装中国97式步枪 逐渐取代美制枪械" (in Chinese). Archived from the original on 2018-07-30. Retrieved 2018-07-30.
- ^ a b "China Exports Its Radical New Assault Rifle". Strategy Page. 17 May 2016. Archived from the original on 23 June 2012. Retrieved 2010-03-11.
- ^ a b c d "内容正在升级改造,请稍后再试!-新闻频道-和讯网" (in Chinese). Archived from the original on 2018-08-03. Retrieved 2018-08-03.
- ^ a b "这个国家的主战步枪和中国95式步枪极似,却是自主研发的新型步枪_军事频道_东方头条" (in Chinese). Archived from the original on 2018-08-03. Retrieved 2018-08-03.
- ^ a b ""Made in Myanmar": Mapping the Military's In-Country Weapon Production". Special Advisory Council for Myanmar. 14 January 2023.
- ^ "Toys for the Boys". Asia Pacific Solidarity Network. Archived from the original on 2016-06-23. Retrieved 2018-07-26.
- ^ a b c Johnson & Nelson (2016), p. 218.
- ^ "Burma Making Small Arms". The Irrawaddy. August 1998. Archived from the original on 2016-03-14. Retrieved 2018-08-07.
- ^ a b c "無托步槍真香?緬甸山寨97式大批量裝備部隊,亞洲兩國幫了大忙" (in Chinese). 2020-10-22.
- ^ "缅甸特种兵用上中国95步枪?难道95开始出口了?|轻武专栏" (in Chinese). 2021-07-09.
- ^ "缅甸仿制中国97式自动步枪亮相独立日阅兵式" (in Chinese). 2015-01-16.
- ^ a b "這國特種兵好像解放軍啊!真相原來如此" (in Chinese). 2016-10-08.
- ^ ""Trùm" đạo nhái vũ khí Trung Quốc tố cáo Myanmar sao chép súng QBZ-97" (in Vietnamese). 2020-10-26. Archived from the original on 2020-12-01.
- ^ "无托步枪真香?缅甸山寨97式大批量装备部队,亚洲两国帮了大忙" (in Chinese). 2020-10-22.
- ^ a b c "中国无托步枪被"山寨"了,未获得中国授权,缅甸山寨97式步枪" (in Chinese). 2020-10-24.
- ^ "这不是97式 缅甸自制无托步枪的发展-北京时间". Archived from the original on 2018-07-30. Retrieved 2018-07-30.
- ^ "Type 95 ARMY BAYONET". Archived from the original on 2018-07-13. Retrieved 2018-08-06.
- ^ Ralph E. Cobb (2010). "Bayonets of China". Archived from the original on 2018-08-03. Retrieved 2018-08-06.
- ^ "Myanmar Small Arms and Light Weapons Identification Guide" (PDF). Centre for Information Resilence. p. 32.
- ^ "Myanmar Small Arms and Light Weapons Identification Guide" (PDF). Centre for Information Resilence. p. 25.
- ^ "Myanmar Small Arms and Light Weapons Identification Guide" (PDF). Centre for Information Resilence. p. 28.
- ^ a b "这3个国家都在山寨中国枪 还把81式改成榴弹发射枪" (in Chinese). Sina. 2020-10-16.
- ^ a b "这不是97式 缅甸自制无托步枪的发展-北京时间". Archived from the original on 2018-07-30. Retrieved 2018-07-30.
- ^ "Myanmar Small Arms and Light Weapons Identification Guide" (PDF). Centre for Information Resilence. p. 36.
- ^ "缅甸仿制中国97步枪配美国枪榴弹,那为啥95很少用榴弹?" (in Chinese). Sohu. 2019-01-08.
Bibliography
- Johnson, Gary Paul; Nelson, Thomas B. (2016-12-15). The World's Assault Rifles. Ironside International Publishers. ISBN 9781619846012.
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