Zijiang M99

The Zijiang M99 is a semi-automatic anti-materiel rifle first introduced in 2005. It has since seen use by the People's Liberation Army Navy and Marine Corps in anti-piracy operations in the Gulf of Aden,^[5] and has been seen in the hands of various rebel groups involved in the Syrian Civil War.^[1]

M99
Type	Semi-automatic anti-materiel rifle
Place of origin	China
Service history
In service	2005-present
Used by	See Users
Wars	Syrian Civil War[1] Iraqi Civil War[2] Myanmar Civil War[3] Sudanese civil war (2023–present)[4]
Production history
Manufacturer	Zijiang Machinery Company (Arsenal 9656)[5]
Produced	2005-present[5]
Variants	M99-II M06
Specifications
Mass	12 kg[6]
Length	150 cm[6]
Cartridge	12.7×108mm[6]
Action	Semi-automatic
Muzzle velocity	800 m/s[citation needed]
Maximum firing range	1500-1700 meters[5]
Feed system	5-round box magazine

Overview

The Type 99 is a lightweight 12.7x108 mm, direct impingement gas-operated, anti-materiel rifle. It features a large muzzle brake to aid in the mitigation of the recoil produced by its cartridge. A 2006 trial conducted by the Pakistan Army indicated that the rifle is capable of 1.6 MOA accuracy with the appropriate precision ammunition.^[5] The acquisition of the M99 by rebel forces in Syria is thought to have been brokered through Qatar^[5] or Sudan.^[7]

Variants

• M99-II: .50 BMG variant.^[5][6]
• M06: Bullpup, drum magazine-fed variant.^[5]

Users

•  China: People's Liberation Army Navy^[5] and People's Liberation Army Marine Corps^[5][7]
• Iraqi Kurdistan^[2]
•  Myanmar: Myanmar Army-Sniper division and units at light infantry battalions^[8]
•  Qatar^[9]
•  Sudan: Sudan People's Armed Forces^[10]
•  Syria: Syrian Arab Army^{[11][better source needed]}

Non-State Actors

• Free Syrian Army^[1]
•  Islamic State^[12]
• United Wa State Army^[13]

See also

• Accuracy International AS50
• Barrett M82/M107

References

1. "Rival rebel factions fight in Syria's largest city". CBC News. Archived from the original on 26 April 2023. Retrieved 19 June 2014.
2. Smallwood, Michael (29 April 2016). "Kurdish Forces with Chinese QLZ87 Automatic Grenade Launcher & M99 Anti-materiel Rifle". sadefensejournal.com. Archived from the original on 21 April 2023.
3. War Noir [@war_noir] (15 December 2023). "#Myanmar (#Burma) 🇲🇲: A quite interesting photo of a fighter of Ta'ang National Liberation Army (#TNLA) in #Shan State. The fighter is using a rare 12.7x108mm Zijiang M99 anti-materiel rifle; originally made by #China 🇨🇳 and likely seized from Tatmadaw. #WhatsHappeningInMyanmar" (Tweet). Archived from the original on 20 December 2023. Retrieved 30 January 2024 – via Twitter.
4. Noir, War [@war_noir] (30 June 2024). "#Sudan 🇸🇩: Rapid Support Forces (#RSF) fighters released a new video after reportedly destroying an armored vehicle belonging to Sudanese Forces. Some of the fighters also seen with rare weapons including Chinese Zijiang M99 anti-materiel sniper rifle and MP5A3 submachine gun" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
5. "The Chinese M99 50-caliber Anti-material rifle". Archived from the original on 14 November 2013. Retrieved 19 June 2014.
6. "Modern Firearms - M99". 27 October 2010. Retrieved 19 June 2014.
7. "Syrian Rebels are using the Chinese M99 large-caliber Sniper Rifle". The Firearm Blog. 30 April 2013. Archived from the original on 11 May 2023. Retrieved 19 June 2014.
8. M99 Chinese 12.7mm Sniper Rifle OE Data Integration Network (ODIN)
9. Mitzer, Stijn; Oliemans, Joost (6 March 2021). "Qatar's Purchase of BP-12A SRBMs: A Guppy Sprouts Teeth". Oryx Blog. Archived from the original on 10 November 2023.
10. Martin, Guy (26 February 2015). "Sudan unveils 122 mm self-propelled howitzer, armoured vehicles at IDEX". defenceWeb. Retrieved 19 January 2024.
11. Chinese sniper rifle Zijiang M99 used by Syrian Armed Forces Soldier.
12. "Syrie: l'EI inflige un revers aux FDS dans l'est, mais reste acculé". France Soir (in French). 25 October 2018. Archived from the original on 18 October 2023.
13. "JADE AND CONFLICT - Myanmar's Vicious Circle" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2 December 2023. Retrieved 22 August 2023.