STL-1A
| STL-1A | |
|---|---|
| Type | Assault rifle |
| Place of origin | Vietnam |
| Service history | |
| Used by | Vietnam |
| Production history | |
| Designed | 2015 |
| Manufacturer | Z111 Factory |
| Produced | 2015 |
| Variants | See Variants |
| Specifications | |
| Mass | 3.5 kg (7.7 lb)[1] |
| Length | 940 mm (37 in)[1] |
| Barrel length | 415 mm (16.3 in)[1] |
| Cartridge | 7.62×39mm |
| Caliber | 7.62 |
| Action | Gas-operated, rotating bolt |
| Rate of fire | 600 rounds/min |
| Muzzle velocity | 715 m/s (2,350 ft/s) |
| Effective firing range | 300 m (330 yd) |
| Maximum firing range | 800 m (870 yd) |
| Feed system | 30-round magazines |
| Sights | STL-1B has picatinny rails for attachment of various scopes |
 | This article needs additional citations for verification. (May 2019) |
The STL-1A (or also called the STL-A1)[2] rifle is an assault rifle made in Vietnam. As a product of the Z111 Factory, it is wholly an upgrade version for the AKM rifle, but is commonly compared to an AK-103.[3] The rifle is chambered in 7.62x39mm.[3]
The prototype of the STL-1A was converted from a 1972-built Soviet AKM rifle.[4] Introduced as a technology demonstrator, STL-1A and its variants were never seen enter mass production and issued by the Vietnam People's Army, while as of 2023, its successor STV rifle has already been chosen as the service rifle for the Vietnamese security forces.
History
[edit]It was originally announced in 2015 that the Z111 Factory would begin producing STL-1A rifles[5] in an occasion to celebrate Vietnamese National Day for Vietnamese defense industry accomplishments.[6] As the STL-1A is based on the older AKM rifles, the factory would convert AKMs and its variants into the new STL-1A rifles. The factory also has the ability to produce these new rifles from scratch.
At the Indo Defence Expo 2018 event, a new variant which combined the STL-1A and the Galil ACE was announced under the name GK3.[7][8]
As of recent, it is assumed that the STL-1A will never enter serial production. Due to the more recent creation of the STV Rifles and their adoption as the new standard issued service rifle, it is likely the Z111 Factory has prioritized production of those over the development of the STL-1A, which stays at its technology demonstrator status.[9]
Design
[edit]Although the rifle itself is an upgrade of the AKM that highly resembles a Vietnamese version of an AK-103,[3] it's upgraded in many areas such as new polymer handguards, folding stock, a new ergonomic pistol grip and muzzle brake based on the AK-74 with side-mounted rails to attach scopes.[10][3]
A suppressor and an M203 underbarrel grenade launcher can be attached to the STL-1A.[10]
Variants
[edit]STL-1B
[edit]A version of the STL-1A with picatinny rails.[3]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c "Sau khi làm chủ công nghệ chế tạo súng trường tấn công AKM, các kỹ sư của nhà máy quốc phòng Z111 đã cải tiến AKM với nhiều thay đổi như: báng gấp ngang bằng nhựa giống AK-103, ốp lót tay bằng nhựa có ray để gắn súng phóng lựu, đầu nòng bù giật giống AK-103, ray gắn khí tài quang học lắp ngang thân."
Nhà máy Z111: Cái nôi sản xuất súng cho QĐ Việt Nam // "SOHA" от 9 октября 2016 - ^ "Việt Nam tự sản xuất mẫu "súng trường AK-103"". 7 November 2017.
- ^ a b c d e "Vietnam has upgraded Kalashnikov AKM under the name STL-1A". www.armyrecognition.com. Retrieved 2019-04-17.
- ^ "[ẢNH] Vũ khí bộ binh hiện đại do Việt Nam chế tạo tại Triển lãm Indo Defence 2018". Báo điện tử An ninh Thủ đô (in Vietnamese). 2018-11-07. Retrieved 2023-11-20.
- ^ "Lộ diện hai mẫu súng cực lạ do Việt Nam sản xuất". baodatviet.vn. Retrieved 2019-04-17.
- ^ "Súng trường tấn công kết hợp Galil ACE và AKM độc nhất vô nhị của Việt Nam".
- ^ hợp), Phong Vũ (Tổng (2019-09-15). "Súng trường tấn công GK1 và GK3 Việt Nam chế tạo có gì đặc biệt? - Doanh nghiệp Việt Nam". Cơ quan ngôn luận của Hiệp hội Doanh nghiệp Khoa học và Công nghệ Việt Nam (in Vietnamese). Retrieved 2021-01-31.
- ^ VCCorp.vn. "Súng trường tấn công kết hợp Galil ACE và AKM độc nhất vô nhị của Việt Nam". soha.vn (in Vietnamese). Retrieved 2020-03-04.
- ^ "STV-380 and STV-215 - New Service Rifles of Vietnamese Army -". The Firearm Blog. 2020-07-17. Retrieved 2021-03-25.
- ^ a b "Súng trường tấn công của Việt Nam bất ngờ lên báo nước ngoài". 7 April 2021.