DI MA-1 Mk. III

The DI MA-1 Mk. III is a family of Myanma-made Bullpup assault rifles chambered for 5.56×45mm NATO, based on the QBZ-97s that were exported to Myanmar in 2009.[3][4] Despite claims that Myanmar made them as an indigenous weapon, the MA-1 Mk. IIIs were made without any licensing agreements with China.[5][6]

MA-1 Mk. III
Type
Place of originMyanmar
Service history
In service2012-Present
Used byMyanmar
WarsMyanmar civil war
Production history
DesignerDuo Yingxian[1][lower-alpha 1]
ManufacturerMyanmar Directorate of Defence Industries
Produced2012-Present
VariantsSee Variants
Specifications
Mass3.4 kg (7.5 lb)
Length740 mm (29 in)
Barrel length123 mm (4.8 in)
Cartridge5.56×45mm NATO
Cartridge weightShort-stroke piston, rotating bolt
Rate of fire650 rounds/min
Muzzle velocity930 m/s (3,100 ft/s)
Effective firing range400 m (440 yd)
Feed system30-round magazine
Sights
  • Hooded post front sight and aperture rear sight (Standard)
  • Y/MA 95-002 telescopic sight (Optional)
References[2]

The MA designation on the weapon means Myanmar Army.[7]

History

Myanmar decided to adopt a bullpup rifle again after Tatmadaw troops reported multiple failures with the EMER-K1, ranging from gun jams to stoppages.[8] At the time, some of them were issued to Tatmadaw forces on patrol duties at the Yadana gas field in 1998.[9][8] 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.[8][3]

The QBZ-97s sold to 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 and for use by an average Myanma soldier.[10]

The MA-1 Mk. IIIs were first shown in public in 2012.[11] They were shown at various Tatmadaw Armed Forces Day parades.[12]

Plans were made to fully adopt the MA-1 Mk. III by 2016, but it was delayed due to quality issues.[10] At the time, it was reported that the MA-1 Mk. IIIs had poor reliability in the field.[13] Chinese media criticized Myanmar for cloning the QBZ-97 without permission.[14]

In 2020, Myanma social media photos showed an improved version of the MA-3 Mk. III, implying that production issues were mostly resolved.[15]

Design

According to the Special Advisory Council for Myanmar (SAC-M), the rifle family is reportedly being manufactured at DDI's KaPaSa 22 factory.[16]

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 way to tell the 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.[10]

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.[13] 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 ergonic front hanguard 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 Myanmar 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
  1. Minor adaptions were made to the original Chinese design.

References
  1. "China's Next Generation Bullpup: Type 95". 29 November 2017. Archived from the original on 2018-08-03. Retrieved 2018-08-03.
  2. "MA-1 Mk.3". Military Today. Archived from the original on 2023-11-18. Retrieved 2024-06-22.
  3. "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.
  4. "China Exports Its Radical New Assault Rifle". Strategy Page. 17 May 2016. Archived from the original on 23 June 2012. Retrieved 2010-03-11.
  5. "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.
  6. "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.
  7. "Toys for the Boys". Asia Pacific Solidarity Network. Archived from the original on 2016-06-23. Retrieved 2018-07-26.
  8. Johnson & Nelson (2016), p. 218.
  9. "Burma Making Small Arms". The Irrawaddy. August 1998. Archived from the original on 2016-03-14. Retrieved 2018-08-07.
  10. "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.
  11. "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.
  12. "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.
  13. "這國特種兵好像解放軍啊！真相原來如此" (in Chinese). 2016-10-08.
  14. ""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.
  15. "缅甸逆向仿制中国97式步枪后，已结出成果开始大量装备部队" (in Chinese). 2021-06-30.
  16. ""Made in Myanmar": Mapping the Military's In-Country Weapon Production". Special Advisory Council for Myanmar.
  17. "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.
  18. "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.
  19. "Type 95 ARMY BAYONET". Archived from the original on 2018-07-13. Retrieved 2018-08-06.
  20. Ralph E. Cobb (2010). "Bayonets of China". Archived from the original on 2018-08-03. Retrieved 2018-08-06.
  21. "Myanmar Small Arms and Light Weapons Identification Guide" (PDF). Centre for Information Resilence. p. 32.
  22. "Myanmar Small Arms and Light Weapons Identification Guide" (PDF). Centre for Information Resilence. p. 25.
  23. "Myanmar Small Arms and Light Weapons Identification Guide" (PDF). Centre for Information Resilence. p. 28.
  24. "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.
  25. "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.
  26. "Myanmar Small Arms and Light Weapons Identification Guide" (PDF). Centre for Information Resilence. p. 36.
  27. "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
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