Z111 Factory

The Z111 Factory (Vietnamese: Nhà máy Z111) is located in Thanh Hoá, Vietnam.[1] It produces small arms for the People's Army of Vietnam (PAVN).

Z111 Factory
State-owned enterprise
IndustryArms industry
HeadquartersThanh Hóa,
Thanh Hóa Province
,
Vietnam
Area served
Vietnam
OwnerVietnamese Ministry of Defence

The Z111 Factory was built in 1957, and was originally called "Z1 Factory".[2] A part of Z111 factory named called Z1 Concern was built by Israel Weapon Industries (IWI) and whole the factory is directly owned by the Vietnamese Ministry of Defence.[1][3]

History

Built in 1957 with the name "Z1 Factory", the factory became a cradle of the small arms industry in Vietnam.[4] Z1 factory specialized in producing small arms for the Vietnam People's Army during the Vietnam War, and created locally modified firearms for its army, such as K-50M submachine gun based on the PPSh-41 and MAT-49

One of the weapons to come from the Z111 Factory is the M18, reconditioned from XM177E2s seized during the Vietnam War since 2010.[1][5] They are known to be used by Vietnamese special forces personnel and officers from the Vietnam Coast Guard[6] due to its compact size.[7]

On February 3, 2014, IWI entered into an agreement with Vietnam to produce the IWI ACE under license.[8] Production was made in a joint production facility.[9]

An improved version of the K-54 pistol[lower-alpha 1] is locally produced under the name of "K14-VN". They are upgraded with an increased capacity of 13 rounds, and a wider grip to incorporate a double stack magazine.[10][11] Research and development started in 2001.[12] The K14-VN began to see service with PAVN forces on May 10, 2014.[13]

In 2015, the Z111 Factory announced that they would produce the new STL-1A rifle.[14] This would mainly be done through converting and upgrading the old AKMs under the new name, but they would also produce entirely new STL-1A rifles. The updated rifle included: New polymer handguards, a folding buttstock, a new ergonomic pistol grip, and an updated muzzle brake similar to those found on the AK-74.[15] A notable change was that it also allowed the use of M203 grenade launchers that are also being produced in Vietnam, replacing the GP-25/GP-34 grenade launchers on the original AKMs. The rifle however, still uses the dovetail side-mount for attaching sights. Overall, the rifle highly resembles an AK-103.[16]

In January 2018, the OSV-96 is reported to be made under license in Vietnam.[17]

On July 2020, the STV-215/380 rifle based on Galil ACE and AK-47 made by this factory has reported to be new service rifles in Vietnam People's Army[18]

Products
Model Image Type Calibre Notes
Pistols
K14-VN Semi-automatic pistol 7.62×25mm Tokarev Vietnamese variant of the K-54, this version is improved with a longer barrel, a rubber grip, and a double-stack magazine that holds an increased capacity of 13 rounds.[10]
Assault Rifles
M18 Carbine 5.56×45mm NATO Reconditioned version of the CAR-15, it is used by Special forces and Marines.[19]
IWI ACE 31/32 Assault rifle 7.62×39mm Manufactured under IWI license, all rifles produced here have their charging handle relocated from the left side onto the right side.[20]Some rumor said original Galil ACE has stopped in production
AK-47 Assault rifle 7.62×39mm Vietnamese upgrade [21]
AKN Assault rifle 7.62×39mm Vietnamese version of KM-AK, comes with bakelite plastic stock, handguard & grips[22]
STV-380 Assault rifle 7.62×39mm New service rifle for Vietnam People's Army. Based on IWI ACE and AK-47. The carbine version known as STV-215[23]
Submachine Guns
STL-15 Submachine gun 9×19mm Parabellum Locally produced with industrial name SN9P and officially called the STL-15. It is the Vietnamese-produced version of the PP-19 Bizon. It comes with a Galil-style stock and is chambered in 9x19mm.[24][25]
Micro Uzi Submachine gun 9×19mm Parabellum Manufactured and supplied to the PAVN.[26]
Uzi Pro Submachine gun 9×19mm Parabellum Manufactured and supplied to the PAVN.[26]
Machine Guns
IWI Negev Light machine gun 5.56×45mm NATO Manufactured and supplied to the PAVN.[26]
PKM General-purpose machine gun 7.62×54mmR Produced as the standard issue machine gun.[27]
NSV Heavy machine gun 12.7×108mm Standard for tank-mounted machine guns.[16]
Sniper Rifles
IWI Galatz Sniper rifle 7.62×51mm Manufactured and supplied to the PAVN.[26]
OSV-96 Anti-materiel rifle 12.7×108mm Made under license with the industrial name of SBT12M1.[17]
KSVK Anti-materiel rifle 12.7×108mm Vietnamese self-designed. Features modifications to suit the local conditions.[26]
Grenade-Based Weapons
T-40 Grenade launcher 40mm grenade A Vietnamese-designed grenade launcher. Based on the M203 grenade launcher, except it uses a lever instead of a trigger. Commonly mounted onto AKN, STV-215/380 or IWI ACE 32 rifles.[24]

See also

Notes
  1. The K-54 is a clone of the Tokarev TT-33 made in Vietnam.

References
  1. "President Truong Tan Sang works with Factory Z111". Vietnam Breaking News. 9 December 2014. Retrieved 9 September 2015.
  2. nxbqdnd.com.vn http://nxbqdnd.com.vn/?nav=book-detail&id=49299. Retrieved 2020-07-16. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  3. "Israel Weapon Industries to begin assault rifle production in Vietnam - IHS Jane's 360". web.archive.org. 2014-10-06. Retrieved 2019-04-03.
  4. "Việt Nam sản xuất súng quân dụng". baodatviet.vn. Retrieved 2020-07-16.
  5. "Bất ngờ với dàn vũ khí tham gia diễu binh 30/4 kỳ 1". Web.archive.org. 25 April 2015. Archived from the original on 2015-04-25.
  6. "Súng trường Galil ACE chính thức tham gia Lễ diễu binh ngày 30/4". Soha.vn. Retrieved 28 September 2018.
  7. https://soha.vn/quan-su/sung-m-18-viet-nam-nhung-thong-tin-thu-vi-20141112163311491.htm
  8. Grevatt, Jon, Israel Weapon Industries to begin assault rifle production in Vietnam, Jane's, archived from the original on 2014-10-06
  9. "Vietnam emerges as a big Military equipment market". New Delhi Times. 2017-07-10. Archived from the original on 2017-09-22. Retrieved 2018-09-28.
  10. "K14-VN - Modern Firearms". Guns.ru. 19 December 2015. Retrieved 1 April 2018.
  11. "Sức mạnh dàn súng Việt Nam tự sản xuất". Baodatviet.vn. Retrieved 1 April 2018.
  12. "Sức mạnh dàn súng Việt Nam tự sản xuất". Baodatviet.vn. Retrieved 1 April 2018.
  13. "Điều chưa biết về súng ngắn K14 Việt Nam sản xuất" [About the K14 manuafactured in Vietnam], Kienthuc.net.vn (in Vietnamese), 2015-03-15
  14. "Lộ diện hai mẫu súng cực lạ do Việt Nam sản xuất". Baodatviet.vn.
  15. "Vietnam has upgraded Kalashnikov AKM under the name STL-1A - weapons defence industry military technology UK - analysis focus army defence military industry army". Armyrecognition.com.
  16. VCCorp.vn. "Nhà máy Z111: Cái nôi sản xuất súng cho QĐ Việt Nam". soha.vn (in Vietnamese). Retrieved 2019-04-02.
  17. "Vietnam unveiled new heavy sniper rifle produced under licence from Russia", Defence-blog.com, Jan 16, 2018
  18. "VietDefense". www.facebook.com. Retrieved 2020-07-16.
  19. "Điều ít biết về khẩu M18 do Việt Nam sản xuất - DVO - Báo Đất Việt". Web.archive.org. 4 November 2016. Archived from the original on 2016-11-04.
  20. "[Indo Defense 2018] Vietnamese Small Arms Part Two: Grenade Launcher's, Galil ACE's, and OSV-96's -". The Firearm Blog. 2018-11-29. Retrieved 2019-04-02.
  21. Nam, Dmitry Shorkov Sputnik Việt. "Chuyên gia Nga nhận xét về việc Việt Nam hiện đại hóa kho vũ khí súng Kalashnikov". vn.sputniknews.com (in Vietnamese). Retrieved 2020-08-12.
  22. BAOMOI.COM (2020-07-11). "Việt Nam 'cải lão hoàn đồng' súng trường AK-47 huyền thoại như thế nào?". BAOMOI.COM (in Vietnamese). Retrieved 2020-07-16.
  23. "Súng trường tấn công STV-410 Việt Nam ra mắt". baodatviet.vn. Retrieved 2020-07-16.
  24. "Trang bị súng phóng lựu thế hệ mới T40 cho Galil ACE?". baodatviet.vn. Retrieved 2019-04-02.
  25. "[Indo Defense 2018] Vietnamese Small Arms Part One: Lee Enfield's, M79's, and Bizon's -". The Firearm Blog. 2018-11-29. Retrieved 2019-04-02.
  26. "Vietnam Begins Manufacture of 12.7mm KSVK, Expands Capabilities". Thefirearmblog.com. 17 August 2017.
  27. VCCorp.vn. "Việt Nam sản xuất thành công súng máy PKMS hiện đại". soha.vn (in Vietnamese). Retrieved 2019-04-02.

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