China NORINCO
QBZ-03
A conventional-layout gas-operated assault rifle developed as a lower-cost, more easily produced alternative to the bullpup QBZ-95 for PLA militia and reserve forces. Chambered for the Chinese 5.8x42 mm cartridge shared with the QBZ-95 family.
In service since 2003 · 1 operator countries
Compiled from public sources ·primary reference ↗ ·last verified 2026-07-02
400
m range
650
rpm
930
m/s
30
rds
Pricing: Unit cost not publicly disclosed
Procurement snapshot
Availability & export
Chinese state channel
State export agencies (NORINCO/CATIC); limited availability to Western-aligned states.
Channel: State export agency
Fielded & proven
Limited · 1 operator
In service since 2003. Status: active.
Lifecycle cost (est.)
No public unit price to model from.
Interoperability
No standardised NATO calibre / datalink detected in public specs.
Derived guidance from public data — export regime by country of origin, lifecycle from the GAO ~30% acquisition rule. Verify eligibility, pricing and offsets with the manufacturer and your acquisition authority.
Full specifications
Performance
Speed, range, altitude and engagement capability.
- Effective range
Distance at which the weapon reliably hits point targets. Higher extends engagement envelope.
- 400 m Stronger than 26% of rifles
- Rate of fire
Rounds per minute (cyclic). Higher increases suppression and hit probability.
- 650 rpm Stronger than 31% of rifles
- Muzzle velocity
Projectile speed leaving the barrel. Higher means flatter trajectory and better armor penetration.
- 930 m/s Stronger than 86% of rifles
Firepower
Armament, payload and guidance.
- Main armament
Primary weapon: main gun, cannon or missile type.
- 5.8x42mm DBP-10 assault rifle
- Caliber
Bore diameter of the main gun or rifle. Larger throws heavier projectiles; not simply better — ammunition commonality matters.
- 5.8 mm
- Ammunition
Rounds carried (main gun) or standard magazine capacity.
- 30 Stronger than 58% of rifles
Physical
Dimensions, weight and crew.
- Length
Overall length including gun/probe where applicable.
- 0.96 m
- Empty weight
Weight without fuel, ammunition or crew.
- 4 kg
- Crew
Personnel required to operate. Fewer reduces exposure; autoloaders trade a loader for mechanical complexity.
- 1
- Barrel length
Barrel length — longer improves muzzle velocity and accuracy, shorter improves handling.
- 443 mm
Program
Cost, production scale and operators.
- Operator countries
Number of countries operating the system. More operators means broader support ecosystem.
- 1 Bottom 6% of rifles
Specifications compiled from public NORINCO and reference sources ↗. Published defense figures are approximations — treat comparisons as directional. Last verified 2026-07-02.
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Tula Arms Plant AEK-971 Frequently asked questions
How many crew does the NORINCO QBZ-03 require? +
The NORINCO QBZ-03 requires a crew of 1.
What is the main armament of the NORINCO QBZ-03? +
The NORINCO QBZ-03's primary weapon is the 5.8x42mm DBP-10 assault rifle.
What is the NORINCO QBZ-03 used for? +
The NORINCO QBZ-03 is a rifle & long arms typically used for infantry combat.
How many countries operate the NORINCO QBZ-03? +
The NORINCO QBZ-03 is operated by 1 countries.
How much does the NORINCO QBZ-03 cost? +
NORINCO QBZ-03: Unit cost not publicly disclosed. Defense program costs are rarely fully public and vary by contract and configuration.
