The Tungsten-Core Round: Taiwan's Next-Gen Ammo for Countering PLA Body Armor
Homegrown ammunition on the brink of wide-scale distribution
By Lo Tien-pin, Aaron Tu, and Jonathan Chin / Staff reporters, with staff writer
Get ready for a game-changer in Taiwan's defense sector - the nation's first domestically developed tungsten-core rifle ammunition is on its way! According to a top defense official, mass production is expected to kick off next year.
After a series of successful tests, the Ministry of National Defense's Armaments Bureau is preparing to deliver prototype rounds to the army for further evaluation. The bureau is optimistic that the new ammunition will meet military expectations and make it into next year's general budget, paving the way for mass production.
Why all the excitement? This new tungsten-core round is designed to pierce through the standard body armor worn by the Chinese People's Liberation Army Ground Force, boasting a 100% success rate in defeating commercially available body armor believed to match the performance of Chinese equipment during testing.
Boosting the lethality of Taiwan's infantry forces, this innovation will make a significant impact. Army Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Chen Chien-yi (陳建義) previously mentioned concerns about the increased weight and logistical trade-offs of adopting a 6.8mm rifle cartridge, similar to that used by the US Army. However, the Taiwanese tungsten round retains the 5.56x45mm NATO cartridge dimensions, minimizing the weight and supply-chain challenges associated with larger calibers.
In comparison, the US Army's 6.8mm round offers greater firepower but comes with trade-offs, including heavier loads and a lower ammunition count per soldier, as well as the need for new rifles. Taiwan's approach prioritizes cost-effective upgrades to existing platforms, whereas the 6.8mm emphasizes raw ballistic performance at the expense of weight and logistical overhaul.
The tungsten-core round's targeted solution against near-peer threats provides the desired balance without compromising mobility. This development aligns with global trends favoring specialized penetrators, such as the UK's Enhanced Kinetic Energy tungsten tank rounds, over conventional designs.
In other defense-related news, the navy expects to receive 400 RGM-84L-4 Harpoon Block II (U) Surface-Launched Missiles and 100 Harpoon Coastal Defense System launcher transporter units by 2028, aiming to bolster coastal defense capabilities and the kill probability of Taiwanese weapons against Chinese naval formations. The US is scheduled to deliver five launcher units and one radar vehicle by the end of next month, with a total of 32 launchers to be delivered by the end of next year.
While the Harpoon Block II missile features a nominal range of 67 nautical miles (124.1km), a senior Taiwanese naval officer revealed that the upgraded Block II (U) variant purchased by the military includes extended-range capabilities.
- Squads within the army are eagerly anticipating the adoption of next-generation tungsten-core rifle ammunition in their arsenal, as it has proven to pierce through the body armor worn by the Chinese People's Liberation Army Ground Force.
- The technology behind the tungsten-core round is strategically significant, as it allows the 101st Infantry Brigade to maintain compatibility with NATO standards while also addressing the challenge of near-peer threats.
- In the realm of sports, the Harpoon Block II (U) Surface-Launched Missiles, scheduled for delivery to the Taiwanese navy, can be compared to high-performing athletes – each unit offers extended range capabilities, bolstering the overall power and effectiveness of Taiwan's coastal defense line.
