Z111 Factory
{{Short description|Vietnamese state-owned small arms factory}}
{{rough translation|Vietnamese|date=August 2022}}
{{Infobox company
| name = 11 Precise Mechanical
| logo = Logo of Z111.png
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| image = Z111 insignia.svg
| image_size = 100px
| image_alt = Insignia of Z111 Factory
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| trade_name = Z111 Factory
| native_name = Nhà máy Z111
| native_name_lang = vi
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| former_name = Z1 Factory
| type = State-owned enterprise
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| industry = Arms industry
Precision mechanics
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| founded = 1957
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| hq_location = Thanh Hóa
| hq_location_city = Thanh Hóa Province
| hq_location_country = Vietnam
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| area_served = Vietnam
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| owner = Vietnamese Ministry of Defence
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| parent = Vietnam Defence Industry
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| website = http://ck11.vn/en
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}}
The Z111 Factory ({{langx|vi|Nhà máy Z111}}), formally registered as the 11 Precise Mechanical One Member Liability Company ({{Langx|vi|Công ty TNHH MTV Cơ khí chính xác 11|lit=11th Precise Mechanical One Member LLC}}),{{Cite web |title=11 PRECISE MECHANICAL ONE MEMBER LIABILITY COMPANY {{!}} Homepage |url=http://ck11.vn/en |access-date=2022-09-05 |website=ck11.vn}} is a state-owned firearms and precision mechanics factory located in Thanh Hoá, Vietnam.{{cite web|title=President Truong Tan Sang works with Factory Z111|url=https://en.qdnd.vn/military/news/president-truong-tan-sang-works-with-factory-z111-454801|publisher=Vietnam Breaking News|access-date=9 September 2015|date=9 December 2014}}
The Z111 Factory was built in 1957, and was originally called "Z1 Factory".{{Cite web|url=http://nxbqdnd.com.vn/?nav=book-detail&id=49299|title=Thông Tin Sách Chi Tiết|access-date=16 July 2020|website=nxbqdnd.com.vn}} A part of this factory named Factory 1 was built by the Israeli firearms company, Israel Weapon Industries (IWI).
It is wholly owned by the Vietnamese Ministry of Defence, and the factory produces arms for the People's Army of Vietnam.{{Cite web|url=http://www.janes.com/article/33334/israel-weapon-industries-to-begin-assault-rifle-production-in-vietnam|title=Israel Weapon Industries to begin assault rifle production in Vietnam - IHS Jane's 360|date=6 October 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006073554/http://www.janes.com/article/33334/israel-weapon-industries-to-begin-assault-rifle-production-in-vietnam|access-date=3 April 2019|archive-date=6 October 2014}}
History
Built in 1957 under the name "Z1 Factory", the factory became a cradle of the small arms industry in Vietnam.{{Cite web|title=Việt Nam sản xuất súng quân dụng|url=https://baodatviet.vn/quoc-phong/quoc-phong-viet-nam/nha-may-z111-cai-noi-san-xuat-sung-cho-qd-viet-nam-3318343/|access-date=2020-07-16|website=baodatviet.vn}} 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 the 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 since 2010 from XM177E2s seized during the Vietnam War.{{cite web|url=https://kienthuc.net.vn/quan-su-viet-nam/bat-ngo-dan-vu-khi-tham-gia-dieu-binh-304-1-481057.html|title=Bất ngờ với dàn vũ khí tham gia diễu binh 30/4 kỳ 1|date=25 April 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150425165327/https://kienthuc.net.vn/quan-su-viet-nam/bat-ngo-dan-vu-khi-tham-gia-dieu-binh-304-1-481057.html|archive-date=2015-04-25}} They are known to be used by Vietnamese special forces personnel and officers from the Vietnam Coast Guard{{cite web|url=http://soha.vn/quan-su/sung-truong-galil-ace-chinh-thuc-tham-gia-le-dieu-binh-ngay-30-4-20150420234110108.htm|title=Súng trường Galil ACE chính thức tham gia Lễ diễu binh ngày 30/4|website=Soha.vn|date=21 April 2015 |access-date=28 September 2018}} due to its compact size.{{Cite web|url=https://soha.vn/quan-su/sung-m-18-viet-nam-nhung-thong-tin-thu-vi-20141112163311491.htm|title=Súng M-18 Việt Nam: Những thông tin thú vị|date=14 November 2014 }}
On February 3, 2014, IWI entered into an agreement with Vietnam to produce the IWI ACE under license.{{citation|last=Grevatt|first=Jon|title=Israel Weapon Industries to begin assault rifle production in Vietnam|url=https://www.janes.com/article/33334/israel-weapon-industries-to-begin-assault-rifle-production-in-vietnam|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006073554/https://www.janes.com/article/33334/israel-weapon-industries-to-begin-assault-rifle-production-in-vietnam|publisher=Jane's|archive-date=2014-10-06}} Production was made in a joint production facility.{{Citation needed|date=February 2022}}
An improved version of the K-54 pistol{{efn|The K-54 is a clone of the Tokarev TT-33 made in Vietnam.}} 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.{{cite web|url=http://world.guns.ru/handguns/hg/vietnam/k14vn-e.html|title=K14-VN - Modern Firearms|date=19 December 2015|website=Guns.ru|access-date=1 April 2018}}{{cite web|url=http://baodatviet.vn/anh-nong/suc-manh-dan-sung-viet-nam-tu-san-xuat-3237315/?p=3|title=Sức mạnh dàn súng Việt Nam tự sản xuất|website=Baodatviet.vn|access-date=1 April 2018}} Research and development started in 2001.{{cite web|url=http://baodatviet.vn/anh-nong/suc-manh-dan-sung-viet-nam-tu-san-xuat-3237315/?p=2|title=Sức mạnh dàn súng Việt Nam tự sản xuất|website=Baodatviet.vn|access-date=1 April 2018}} The K14-VN began to see service with PAVN forces on May 10, 2014.{{citation |title=Điều chưa biết về súng ngắn K14 Việt Nam sản xuất |trans-title=About the K14 manuafactured in Vietnam |url=http://kienthuc.net.vn/quan-su-viet-nam/dieu-chua-biet-ve-sung-ngan-k14-viet-nam-san-xuat-466574.html |date=2015-03-15 |website=Kienthuc.net.vn |language=vi }}
In 2015, the Z111 Factory announced that they would produce the new STL-1A rifle.{{cite web|url=http://baodatviet.vn/quoc-phong/quoc-phong-viet-nam/lo-dien-hai-mau-sung-cuc-la-do-viet-nam-san-xuat-3345729/|title=Lộ diện hai mẫu súng cực lạ do Việt Nam sản xuất|website=Baodatviet.vn}} 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.{{cite web|url=https://www.armyrecognition.com/weapons_defence_industry_military_technology_uk/viertnam_has_upgraded_kalashnikov_akm_under_the_name_stl-1a.html|title=Vietnam has upgraded Kalashnikov AKM under the name STL-1A - weapons defence industry military technology UK - analysis focus army defence military industry army|website=Armyrecognition.com}} 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.{{Cite web|url=http://soha.vn/news-20160910104107575.htm|title=Nhà máy Z111: Cái nôi sản xuất súng cho QĐ Việt Nam|last=VCCorp.vn|website=soha.vn|date=10 September 2016 |language=vi|access-date=2019-04-02}}
In January 2018, the OSV-96 was reported to be made under license in Vietnam.{{cite web | url=https://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/2018/01/22/vietnam-locally-produce-osv-96-anti-material-rifle | title=Vietnam to Locally Produce OSV-96 Anti-Material Rifle - | date=22 January 2018 }}
In 2019, the factory revealed the new STV rifles, the STV-215 and the STV-380. Both of them were designated to be the new standard-issue rifles for the Vietnam People's Army. IWI Jericho 941 pistols were also reported being manufactured.{{Cite web|date=2020-10-20|title=A Look Into Vietnamese Firearms Manufacturing in Z111 Factory -|url=https://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/2020/10/20/vietnamese-firearms-manufacturing/|access-date=2021-01-31|website=The Firearm Blog|language=en-US}}
In 2020, the factory revealed two more variants of the STV rifles, called the STV-410 and the STV-416.{{Cite web|title=Súng trường tấn công STV-410 Việt Nam ra mắt|url=https://datviet.trithuccuocsong.vn/quoc-phong/quoc-phong-viet-nam/sung-truong-tan-cong-stv-410-viet-nam-ra-mat-3412383/|access-date=2021-01-31|website=datviet.trithuccuocsong.vn}}{{Cite web|date=2020-07-14|title=Vietnamese Weapons: New AK Variants STV-410 and STV-416 -|url=https://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/2020/07/14/vietnamese-weapons-new-ak-variants-stv-410-and-stv-416/|access-date=2021-01-31|website=The Firearm Blog|language=en-US}}
Products
See also
Notes
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