STL-1A

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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

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

Although the rifle itself is an upgrad 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

STL-1B

A version of the STL-1A with picatinny rails.^[3]

References