The STL-1A (or also called the STL-A1) rifle is an

assault rifle An assault rifle is a select fire rifle that uses an intermediate cartridge, intermediate-rifle cartridge and a Magazine (firearms), detachable magazine.C. Taylor, ''The Fighting Rifle: A Complete Study of the Rifle in Combat'', F.A. Moyer '' ...

made in

Vietnam Vietnam, officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam (SRV), is a country at the eastern edge of mainland Southeast Asia, with an area of about and a population of over 100 million, making it the world's List of countries and depende ...

chambered in 7.62×39mm. 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 The AK-103 is an assault rifle designed by Russian small arms designer Mikhail Kalashnikov. History The AK-103 was officially offered for export on March 13, 1993. Design details It is an AK-100 derivative of the AK-74M that is chambered ...

History

It was originally announced in 2015 that the Z111 Factory would begin producing STL-1A rifles in an occasion to celebrate Vietnamese National Day for Vietnamese defense industry accomplishments.

Design

The prototype of the STL-1A was converted from a 1972-built Soviet AKM rifle. 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. Although the rifle itself is an upgrade of the AKM that highly resembles a

Vietnamese Vietnamese may refer to: * Something of, from, or related to Vietnam, a country in Southeast Asia * Vietnamese people, or Kinh people, a Southeast Asian ethnic group native to Vietnam ** Overseas Vietnamese, Vietnamese people living outside Vietna ...

, 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. A suppressor and an M203 underbarrel grenade launcher can be attached to the STL-1A.

Recent status

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. Introduced as a

technology demonstrator A technology demonstration (or tech demo), also known as demonstrator model, is a prototype, rough example or otherwise incomplete version of a conceivable product or future system, put together as proof of concept with the primary purpose of sho ...

, STL-1A and its variants were not mass produced or issued by the

Vietnam People's Army Vietnam, officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam (SRV), is a country at the eastern edge of mainland Southeast Asia, with an area of about and a population of over 100 million, making it the world's List of countries and depende ...

. Instead, the PAV adopted the

STV rifles The STV (abbreviation for or STL - , ) is a family of Vietnamese-made Service rifle, service Assault rifle, assault rifles and Submachine gun, submachine guns. The STV program was initiated to design the next generation mainline Service rifle, ...

as the new standard issue service rifle.

Variants

STL-1B

A version of the STL-1A with picatinny rails.

References

{{Kalashnikov rifle 7.62×39mm assault rifles Assault rifles of Vietnam Kalashnikov derivatives Russia–Vietnam relations