TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Taiwan’s military will buy the new T112 assault rifle next year.

The military plans to purchase 86,114 T112 rifles, according to Minister of National Defense Wellington Koo (顧立雄). The rifle has a tighter shot grouping of 9.8 cm at 100 meters, the Armaments Bureau said on Wednesday (Oct. 9).

The rifle features ambidextrous design elements such as dual-sided charging handles, which allow for quick transitions between left- and right-handed shooting, CNA reported. This feature enhances flexibility and mobility in close-quarters combat.

The Armaments Bureau also unveiled a new ballistic plate on Wednesday. Development of a new ballistic plate has been completed, the bureau said, and it is based on the US military's Enhanced Small Arms Protective Insert specifications, which is capable of withstanding the Chinese 5.8mm steel-core rounds. 

The new plate weighs 2.2 kilograms and is made of ceramic tiles and polyethylene fiber. It will be mass-produced alongside a redesigned bulletproof vest starting next year, the bureau added.

The new equipment comes as Taiwan has increased efforts to strengthen its defense against a Chinese attack. During a meeting with US lawmakers on Tuesday, Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍) said Taiwan's defense budget has nearly doubled over the past eight years, demonstrating its commitment to national security.