QLZ-87 grenade launcher

The  QLZ-87 (also known as Type 87) is an air-cooled, gas operated 35×32mmSR automatic grenade launcher (AGL) that is crew transportable (12–20 kg) with limited amounts of ammunition. Unusual for handheld grenade launchers, the QLZ-87 fires high-velocity grenades of 35x32 mmSR caliber, which provides a longer range and flatter firing trajectory.

The QLZ-87 is being complemented by the QLZ-04, which is fed from a belt and thus is better suited to be mounted on tripods and vehicles.

Design
It can fire a variety of 35 mm grenades stored in the 6-or 15-round cartridge drum. The Type 87 is described by NORINCO as "Mini Infantry Artillery". The two most common types of grenades are the 35x32SR DFS87 HE (High Explosive) and DFJ87 HEDP (High Explosive, Dual Purpose) variants. The HEDP 35 mm grenade pierces armour up to 80 mm thick and produces fragments to kill or wound personnel within 5 meters of the point of impact. The HE 35mm grenade has a stated fragmentation casualty radius of 10–11 meters. The Type 87 can fire on a tripod or by using the bipod fixed on the barrel. It can also be mounted on armoured vehicles or helicopters. The launcher is capable of attacking low-flying air targets as well as targets on the ground.

Ammunition
The list of warhead types that are available for the 35×32mmSR Type 87:
 * DFS-87 : Anti-personnel fragmentation grenade with HE-Frag warhead.
 * DFJ-87 : Dual purpose, Armor-piercing grenade with HEAT warhead.
 * DFR-87 : Incendiary grenade.
 * DFN-87 : High-explosive fragmentation incendiary grenade.
 * DFD-87 : Smoke/marker grenade, with colored smoke.

Variants

 * QLZ-87B/QLB-06: A newer handheld semi-automatic version of the QLZ-87. It features an aluminum receiver, redesigned action, new bipod, no tripod mount, and a conventional pistol grip and fire control. Weight is reduced to 9.1 kg and it is fed by a 4-round drum.

Users



 * 🇦🇫 Afghanistan
 * 🇧🇴 Bolivia
 * 🇨🇳 China: People's Liberation Army
 * 🇪🇹 Ethiopia Some locally made
 * Iraqi Kurdistan: Kurdish Peshmerga
 * 🇳🇦 Namibia
 * 🇳🇪 Niger
 * 🇵🇰 Pakistan: Used by Pakistan Army.
 * 🇸🇴 Somalia, some captured by the Shabaab.
 * 🇸🇩 Sudan: Known to be made as "ABBA" by MIC. The QLZ-87 is also used by Sudan-backed Chadian rebels and the Sudan People's Liberation Movement-North.
 * Syrian National Coalition
 * 🇹🇿 Tanzania
 * 🇺🇬 Uganda

Non-State Actors

 * Hamas: Some allegedly seized from Hamas arms caches.