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| Z111 Factory | |
Native name | Nhà máy Z111 |
| Formerly | Z1 Factory |
| Company type | State-owned enterprise |
| Industry | Firearm Precision mechanics |
| Founded | 1957; 69 years ago (1957) (Z1 Factory) |
| Headquarters | Thanh Hóa,, |
Area served | Vietnam |
| Products | |
| Revenue | 970,000,000,000 VND (2024) |
| Owner | Vietnamese Ministry of Defence |
| Parent | VDI |
| Website | http://ck11.vn/en |
TheZ111 Factory (Vietnamese:Nhà máy Z111), formally registered as the11 Precise Mechanical One Member Liability Company (Vietnamese:Công ty TNHH MTV Cơ khí chính xác 11,lit. '11th Precise Mechanical One Member LLC'),[1] is a state-owned firearms and precision mechanics factory located inThanh Hoá,Vietnam.[2] It is a core affiliation ofVietnam Defence Industry.
The Z111 Factory was built in 1957, and was originally called "Z1 Factory".[3] A part of this factory named Factory 1 was built by the Israeli firearms company,Israel Weapon Industries (IWI).
It is wholly owned by theVietnamese Ministry of Defence, and the factory produces arms forthe People's Army of Vietnam.[2][4]
Z111 factory was founded in 1/3/1957 under the name "Z1 Factory" atYen Bai with its primary task is to repair various types of guns, artillery, and optical equipment to meet the equipment requirements for training, combat readiness, and combat missions of the Army.[5]These facilities were built with technical and logistical support from socialist countries, marking an important step in laying the industrial foundation for Vietnam’s long-term defense self-sufficiency. The factory became a cradle of the small arms industry in Vietnam.[6] Z1 factory specialized in producing small arms for theVietnam People's Army during the Vietnam War, and created locally modified firearms for its army, such as theK-50M submachine gun based on thePPSh-41 andMAT-49.The factory began producing a limited number of light weapons such asSKS,[7]AK-47,RPG-2, K-66 (based 60mmType 63 mortar)[8] and TUL-1 light machine guns.[9] In the years afterVietnam War, the factory start to produce more modern firearm with support fromSoviet Union such asAKM.
One of the weapons to come from the Z111 Factory is the M18, reconditioned since 2010 from XM177E2s seized during the Vietnam War.[2][10] They are known to be used by Vietnamese special forces personnel and officers from theVietnam Coast Guard[11] due to its compact size.[12]
On February 3, 2014, IWI entered into an agreement with Vietnam to produce theIWI ACE under license.[13] Production was made in a joint production facility. Additionally, the Z111 factory is also involved in manufacturing several weapon components for the Israeli companyIWI[14][15]
An improved version of theK-54 pistol[a] 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 adouble stack magazine.[16] Research and development started in 2001.[17] The K14-VN began to see service with PAVN forces on May 10, 2014.[18]
In 2015, the Z111 Factory announced that they would produce the newSTL-1A rifle.[19] This would mainly be done through converting and upgrading the oldAKMs under the new name, but they would also produce entirely newSTL-1A rifles. The updated rifle included newpolymer handguards, a folding buttstock, a new ergonomic pistol grip, and an updated muzzle brake similar to those found on theAK-74.[20] A notable change was that it also allowed the use ofM203 grenade launchers that are also being produced in Vietnam, replacing theGP-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 anAK-103.[21] In January 2018, theOSV-96 was reported to be made under license in Vietnam.[22]
In 2019, the factory revealed the newSTV rifles based onGalil ACE, the STV-215 and the STV-380. Both of them were designated to be the new standard-issue rifles for theVietnam People's Army. Component ofIWI Jericho 941 pistols were also reported being manufactured, most likely for a production contract between the factory and IWI.[23]In 2020, the factory revealed two more variants of the STV rifles, called the STV-410 and the STV-416.[24][25]These variants are proposed and introduced astechnology demonstrators and forcommercial purposes.
In recent years, the factory has invested heavily in weapons and equipment to support the production of various types of infantry firearms. Advanced manufacturing techniques such as barrelcold forging andCNC machining have been introduced. In addition, the factory has also replicated firearms currently in use by the military and has heavily modified those designs to better meet the operational requirements of the armed forces.
| Model | Image | Type | Calibre | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pistols | ||||
| K14-VN |  | Semi-automatic pistol | 7.62×25mm Tokarev | Vietnamese variant of theK-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.[16] |
| IWI Jericho 941 |  | Semi-automatic pistol | 9×19mm Parabellum | Pistols are manufactured with a steel frame.[26] |
| SN19 | Semi-automatic pistol | 9×19mm Parabellum | Vietnamese variant of theGlock | |
| SN7VN-M24 | Semi-automatic pistol | 7.62×25mm Tokarev | Vietnamese variant of theGlock using7.62×25mm Tokarev. | |
| Assault Rifles | ||||
| M18 |  | Carbine | 5.56×45mm NATO | Reconditioned version of theCAR-15, it is used by special forces and marines.[27] |
| 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. There are rumors that production has ceased in favor of the new Vietnamese-designedSTV rifles.[28] |
| STV-215 | Assault rifle | 7.62×39mm | Standard issued rifle. Carbine version with a 215mm barrel length.[23] | |
| STV-270 | Assault rifle | 7.62×39mm | Version of STV-215 with a longer barrel. | |
| STV-380 |  | Assault rifle | 7.62×39mm | Standard issued rifle forVietnam People's Army. Based onIWI ACE andSTL-1A. SeeSTV rifles for more.[29] |
| STV-410 | Assault rifle | 7.62×39mm | Handguard, gas block, and stock adjustments. 410mm barrel. SeeSTV-410 for more info.[24][25] | |
| STV-416 | Assault rifle | 7.62x39mm | Handguard, gas block, and stock adjustments. SeeSTV-416 for more info.[25] | |
| STL-1A | Assault rifle | 7.62×39mm | Old AKMs are converted into the STL-1A[20] | |
| AK-47 |  | Assault rifle | 7.62×39mm | Vietnamese upgrades made with brown plastic furniture.[30] |
| AKN | Assault rifle | 7.62×39mm | Vietnamese version of KM-AK, comes with a Bakelite plastic stock, handguard, and grips[31] | |
| 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 thePP-19 Bizon. It comes with a Galil-style stock and is chambered in9x19mm.[32][33] | |
| Micro Uzi |  | Submachine gun | 9×19mm Parabellum | Manufactured and supplied to the PAVN.[34] |
| Uzi Pro |  | Submachine gun | 9×19mm Parabellum | Manufactured and supplied to the PAVN.[34] |
| Machine Guns | ||||
| IWI Negev |  | Light machine gun | 5.56×45mm NATO | Manufactured and supplied to theVietnamese Naval Infantry.[34] |
| PKM |  | General-purpose machine gun | 7.62×54mmR | Modernized production is designated as the ĐN7L. It is the standard issued machine gun for the PAVN.[35] New copies are made with a modern plastic stock and grip, and includes a picatinny rail for a sight on top. Older copies are also being modernized with the same features. |
| NSV |  | Heavy machine gun | 12.7×108mm | Standard for tank-mounted machine guns.[21] |
| M134 Minigun |  | Rotarymedium machine gun | 7.62×51mm NATO | Domestic made copy of original variant of US M134 Minigun.[citation needed] |
| Sniper Rifles | ||||
| IWI Galatz |  | Sniper rifle | 7.62×51mm | Manufactured and supplied to the PAVN.[34] |
| OSV-96 |  | Anti-materiel rifle | 12.7×108mm | Made under license with the industrial name ofSBT12M1.[36] |
| KSVK |  | Anti-materiel rifle | 12.7×108mm | Vietnamese manufacture. Features modifications to suit the local conditions.[34] |
| Grenade-Based Weapons | ||||
| OPL40M / T-40 |  | Grenade launcher | 40mm grenade | A Vietnamese-designedgrenade launcher. Based on theM203 grenade launcher, except it uses a lever instead of a trigger. Commonly mounted onto the AKN, STV-215/380/410, and IWI ACE 32 rifles.[32] |
