type 87 assault rifle

The Chinese People's Liberation Army attempted to replace the Type 56 assault rifle and the Type 56 carbine, which led to a failed adoption of the Type 63. Consecutively, the 1979 Sino-Vietnamese War acclerated the PLA's need for a modernised service rifle, which led to the birth of the Type 81. Thus, the Type 81 was redesigned into the Type 87, as a development platform for the next generation of PLA small arms which was finalized in 1987.

The Type 87 is similar to the Type 81 except that it has a plastic furniture and an L-shaped folding stock. The Type 87 served as a test-bed for the then new 5.8×42mm DBP87 ammunition, which was later used by QBZ-95, QBZ-03 and QBZ-191 as the standard issue rifle ammunition. The Type 87 could be equipped with DQJ03、DQP-1 and DQD-1 rifle grenades, while being issued with the Type 87 bayonet, the first knife bayonet in PLA service.

Prototype assault rifle designed from late 1987 to 1989 as a facelift for the Type 87 in anticipation of the 1989 National Day parade, known as the "Project 8910". The rifle features a two-piece polymer handguard with improved ventilation, polymer magazines, and polymer pistol grip. Limited production began in spring of 1989. It never went into full-scale production but has been in service with PLA special forces.

Prototype light machine gun based on the Type 87 design, also known as the QJB87.

Redesigned and modernised Type 87 rifle.

While the Type 87 never went into full-scale production and was soon replaced, it remains in PLA service in limited numbers.

• China