The QJB-201 Squad Machinegun (),, also known as the QJS-161 Paratrooper Machinegun (), is a Chinese light machine gun designed and manufactured by Norinco for the People's Liberation Army Ground Force and Airborne Corps.
Development The QJB-201 and QJS-161 are designed to replace China's QBZ-95 series squad automatic weapon and QJY-88 light machine gun. The weapon was developed in 2016, initially known as the paratrooper machine gun or QJS-161. In 2020, the weapon was certified with the designation QJB-201.
Design The QJS-161 features two types of barrel varied in length, presumably for different requirements from the PLA Ground Force and the PLAAF Airborne Corps. As an open-bolt machine gun, the QJB-201 uses 5.8×42mm ammunition that can feed either from a disintegrating belt in fabric container loaded into the feed port on the left side of the weapon, or a standard Chinese 5.8×42mm box magazine inserted vertically into the magazine well at the bottom of the weapon. A non-reciprocating charging handle is located on its right. A picatinny rail is located behind the short feed tray cover above the feeding port.
The squad automatic machine gun features a weight-reduction design, such as lightweight material for the gun body and the fabric detachable box magazine, reducing the empty weight to . The side-folding stock features a fully adjustable buttpad and cheek rest. The barrel change requires the opening of the feed tray cover, which is am error-proofing feature ensuring ammunition is removed before barrel replacement process.
Variants QJS-161 Paratrooper version. Initial version. QJB-201 Regular version. Developed from the QJS-161 CS/LM20 Export designation for the QJB-201 in 5.8×42mm CS/LM21 Export designation for the QJB-201 in 5.56×45mm NATO
Users : People's Liberation Army
See also List of machine guns List of dual-feed firearms
References