×
Aircraft / Aviation Vehicles & Artillery Infantry Arms Warships & Submarines Military Pay Chart (2023) Military Ranks
Advertisements
HOME
INFANTRY
MODERN ARMIES
SPECIAL FORCES
COUNTRIES
MANUFACTURERS
COMPARE
BY CONFLICT
BY TYPE
BY DECADE
COLD WAR
MODERN
Infantry Small Arms / The Warfighter

NORINCO QLZ87 (Type 87)


Automatic Grenade Launcher (AGL) [ 1987 ]



The QLZ87 Automatic Grenade Launcher uses a unique 35mm grenade and has been adopted by several fighting forces of the world to date.



Authored By: Staff Writer | Last Edited: 05/15/2023 | Content ©www.MilitaryFactory.com | The following text is exclusive to this site.

GO TO SPECIFICATIONS [+]
Advertisements
NORINCO of China has amassed a long history of arms-making since the brand was established in during the tail-end of the Cold War in 1980. Its first projects were local production copies of Soviet-era arms including the famous TT-33 semi-automatic pistol (as the Type 54) and the Kalashnikov AK-47 (as the Type 56). Today, the company has branched out into design, development and production of many indigenous Chinese weapon types including whole combat tanks, armored and unarmored fighting vehicles and even unmanned aircraft while managing to keep a hand in the small arms business.

In the late-1980s, the company unveiled a new Automatic Grenade Launcher (AGL) for its armed forces as the "Type 87" (also known as the "QLZ87"). The weapon is a complete suppression system utilizing a gas-operated, fully-automatic self-loading action (with direct impingement process) feeding from a six- or fifteen-round hard drum magazine. A bipod assembly is optionally fitted under the long-running, fluted barrel (capped by a large slotted muzzle brake). Over the receiver is a carrying handle and under it is the drum feed. The rear of the receiver features the charging handle, trigger section and shoulder support. The weapon can be mounted atop a heavy-duty tripod assembly for use as a fixed defensive weapon or similarly mounted on a trainable pintle, the latter for vehicle / helicopter door gunner usage. While traditional iron sights are used for ranged fire, optics are also supported. Overall weight is 26lb (44lb with the scope fitted and drum loaded).

The Type 87 relies on a rather unique grenade projectile offered in 35mm caliber (35x32mm). This ammunition arrives in several available flavors to suit mission requirements (Armor-Piercing, High-Explosive, anti-infantry, smoke, etc). This sort of versatility provides multiple tactical uses for the weapon and puts it on par with Russian and Western design offerings of similar mission form and function.

The weapon can reach a rate-of-fire of 120 to 500 rounds-per-minute and outgoing projectiles are rated at a muzzle velocity of 620 feet-per-second. Effective range is out to 600 meters with a maximum range of 1,750 meters being possible (though with reduced accuracy).

The Type 87 grenade launcher is currently (2017) in service with the army branches of Bolivia, China, Pakistan, Sudan and Syria.©MilitaryFactory.com
Note: The above text is EXCLUSIVE to the site www.MilitaryFactory.com. It is the product of many hours of research and work made possible with the help of contributors, veterans, insiders, and topic specialists. If you happen upon this text anywhere else on the internet or in print, please let us know at MilitaryFactory AT gmail DOT com so that we may take appropriate action against the offender / offending site and continue to protect this original work.
Advertisements

Specifications



Service Year
1987

Origin
China national flag graphic
China

Classification


Automatic Grenade Launcher (AGL)


China NORth INdustires COrporation (NORINCO) - China
(View other Arms-Related Manufacturers)
National flag of Bolivia National flag of China National flag of Ethiopia National flag of Iraq National flag of Namibia National flag of Niger National flag of Pakistan National flag of Sudan National flag of Somalia National flag of Syria National flag of Tanzania National flag of Uganda Bolivia; China; Ethiopia; Iraq; Namibia; Niger; Pakistan; Somalia; Sudan; Syria; Tanzania; Uganda
(OPERATORS list includes past, present, and future operators when applicable)
Fire Support
Capable of suppressing enemy elements at range through direct or in-direct fire.


Overall Length
970 mm
38.19 in
Barrel Length
560 mm
22.05 in
Empty Wgt
26.46 lb
12.00 kg
Sights


Iron.


Action


Gas-Operated; Direct Impingement

Gas-Operated
Gas-operated system is featured, typically involving a gas cylinder and rear-driven piston directing energy to the bolt component.
(Material presented above is for historical and entertainment value and should not be construed as usable for hardware restoration, maintenance, or general operation - always consult official manufacturer sources for such information)


Caliber(s)*


35x32mm

Rounds / Feed


6- or 15-round drum magazine.
Cartridge relative size chart
*May not represent an exhuastive list; calibers are model-specific dependent, always consult official manufacturer sources.
**Graphics not to actual size; not all cartridges may be represented visually; graphics intended for general reference only.
Max Eff.Range
2,000 ft
(610 m | 667 yd)
Rate-of-Fire
350
rds/min
Muzzle Velocity
620 ft/sec
(189 m/sec)


QLZ87 - Base Series Designation.
Type 87 - Alternative designation.
QLZ87B (QLB-06) - 20lb semi-automatic variant with 4-round drum; aluminum receiver; modernized action and bipod support assembly; sans tripod.
MIC "ABBA" - Local Sudanese variant.


Military lapel ribbon for the American Civil War
Military lapel ribbon for pioneering aircraft
Military lapel ribbon for the Cold War
Military lapel ribbon for the Korean War
Military lapel ribbon representing modern aircraft
Military lapel ribbon for the Ukranian-Russian War
Military lapel ribbon for the Vietnam War
Military lapel ribbon for the World War 1
Military lapel ribbon for the World War 2


Ribbon graphics not necessarily indicative of actual historical campaign ribbons. Ribbons are clickable to their respective campaigns / operations.

Images Gallery



1 / 1
Image of the NORINCO QLZ87 (Type 87)
Image from the Chinese Ministry of Defense; Public Release.


Advertisements




Disclaimer | Privacy Policy | Cookies


2023 Military Pay Chart Military Ranks DoD Dictionary Conversion Calculators Military Alphabet Code Military Map Symbols

The "Military Factory" name and MilitaryFactory.com logo are registered ® U.S. trademarks protected by all applicable domestic and international intellectual property laws. All written content, illustrations, and photography are unique to this website (unless where indicated) and not for reuse/reproduction in any form. Material presented throughout this website is for historical and entertainment value only and should not to be construed as usable for hardware restoration, maintenance, or general operation. We do not sell any of the items showcased on this site. Please direct all other inquiries to militaryfactory AT gmail.com.

Part of a network of sites that includes GlobalFirepower, a data-driven property used in ranking the top military powers of the world, WDMMA.org (World Directory of Modern Military Aircraft), WDMMW.org (World Directory of Modern Military Warships), SR71blackbird.org, detailing the history of the world's most iconic spyplane, and MilitaryRibbons.info, cataloguing military medals and ribbons.

View day-by-day actions of the American Civil War with CivilWarTimeline.net. View day-by-day actions of World War II with SecondWorldWarHistory.com.


©2023 www.MilitaryFactory.com • All Rights Reserved • Content ©2003-2023 (20yrs)