Future service rifles from across the world that deserve more attention

While the United States is busy focusing on the adoption of the XM7 rifle, the rest of the world seems to be taking more sensible steps in adopting new service rifles.

Today, we’re going around the world to look at five new service rifles that haven’t received a lot of attention.

Japan’s Howa Type 20

In an effort to modernize the Ground Self-Defense Force, the Japanese have developed and adopted a thoroughly modern rifle design: the Howa Type 20. First produced in 2020, it was developed to replace the aging Howa Type 89 rifles. The Howa Type 20 utilizes a short-stroke gas-piston system, similar to the AR-18’s, and is on 5.56 NATO caliber.

These rifles are selective-fire designs with a rate of fire between 650 and 850 rounds per minute. They feed from NATO STANAG-type magazines and feature an effective range of 500 meters. The rifles feature 13-inch barrels, an overall length of 33 inches, and a weight of 7.7 pounds.

The Howa Type 20 comes equipped with every modern feature a contemporary military needs: It’s optics-ready; has a Picatinny handguard for accessories; a stock that both folds and collapses; and ambidextrous controls. The Howa Type 20 is a modern rifle that will serve the Japanese Ground Self-Defense Forces well.

Singapore’s BR18

The B18 rifle (Photo by TheTranc/Wikimedia Commons)

The Singaporean military has a distinct preference for bullpup rifles and is now replacing the SAR-21 series of bullpup rifles with the BR18 series of bullpup variants. The BR18 is an attempt to modernize the Singaporean military with a more contemporary and modular rifle design.

The rifle features a 14.5-inch barrel in its assault-rifle configuration, but 20- and 18-inch options are available for light machine gun variants. Its overall length is only 25.39 inches with the 14.5-inch barrel. The rifle weighs 7.7 pounds and utilizes a long-stroke gas-piston system. It’s a selective-fire design with a 700- to 900-round-per-minute rate of fire and fires 5.56 NATO.

The BR18 is made with a hefty dose of polymer which saves weight and simplifies manufacturing. It’s designed for “over-the-beach” use, allowing the operator to safely fire the rifle after he has submerged it. The rifle works for both left- and right-handed troops due to its forward ejection design – a rare feat for bullpup rifles. The rifle integrates rail systems to accommodate modern accessories and optics and will likely be a worthwhile replacement for the SAR-21.

Related: How the AR-18 influenced a generation of service rifles

Serbia’s Zastava M19

Zastava M19 rifle (Photo by Savkeez1)

The Serbian Armed Forces have long used a local AK derivative known for its robust design, and now with the Zastava M19 they haven’t strayed too far from that design. Yet, although the M19 sticks to its AK roots, it still features modern touches.

The gun maintains the long-stroke gas piston design of the AK series but features numerous external upgrades. This includes a monolithic top cover with a modern optics rail. The safety has been vastly improved to a thumb-manipulated design. The stock also offers a folding and collapsing design. While different, anyone familiar with the AK would have no issues adapting to the M19.

The Serbian military went with the 6.5 Grendel cartridge that initially developed for the AR-15, so it’s interesting to see it used in an AK-series rifle.

The 6.5 Grendel is designed to offer a precision-oriented cartridge in an intermediate format. It outperforms most intermediate-caliber cartridges in accuracy and range. It has roughly twice the recoil of 5.56 but is still controllable and easy to handle by most accounts.

Taiwan’s T112 Assault Rifle

Taiwan’s T112 Assault Rifle at display, September 2023. (Photo by Kglrf429/Wikimedia Commons)

The Taiwanese T112 assault rifle will replace the T91 assault rifle with the Taiwan military. At first glance, the T112 appears to be a derivative of the AR-15 series. But in reality, the Taiwanese military prefers the AR-18 operating system and the upcoming T112 will combine AR-15 and AR-18 design cues.

The T112 i more of an evolution on the T91, representing a more modern rifle design rather than a radical departure. It features an M-LOK handguard, a more modern stock, and a more pronounced brass deflector. The controls are now ambidextrous. It uses a short-stroke gas-piston system and is chambered for 5.56 NATO.

The rifle features a four-position selector offering the user safe, semi-auto, two-shot burst, and full-auto settings. The designers went with polygonal rifling, which provides numerous benefits, including a better gas seal, less bullet deformation, and prolonged barrel life. Overall, the rifle appears to be very well thought out.

Related: Drones and conscription: Taiwan is learning from Ukraine’s fight against Russia

Romania’s Cugir CN-20 and CN-22

Cugir CN-20 illustration. (Courtesy of Newsweek.ro via Cugir)

Cugir is part of ROMARM, Romania’s state arsenal. The company has produced a wide variety of firearms for the Romanian military and for export. Two models we don’t hear much about are the CN-20 and CN-22. These are modern rifles that combine features of the AR and AK series.

The rifles use a long-stroke gas-piston system, much like an AK-series rifle. The CN-20 is the longer barrel version at 16.33 inches and the CN-22 has a slightly shorter barrel at 13.5. Both rifles are 5.56 caliber and use STANAG magazines.

The rifles use magnesium alloy for the receivers, which keeps them light – the CN-20 weighs about seven pounds. The rifles implement an AR-15-style charging handle and fully ambidextrous controls. The stock is adjustable for length and a cheek riser makes it easy to use optics. While not currently fielded, the CN-20 will likely be Romania’s next service rifle.

Progress in rifle technology has been very slow and we are essentially seeing small upgrades to legacy systems. The implementation of optics, lasers, lights, and more has created a new generation of rifles. None of the above rifles have revolutionary designs, but they are massive improvements over the rifles they are replacing.

Feature Image: A Howa Type 20 rifle being showcased at Camp Itami, October 2022. (Photo by Hunini/Wikmedia Commons)

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