STL-1A
The STL-1A rifle is a prototyping assault rifle made in Vietnam chambered in 7.62×39mm.
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
As the STL-1A is based on the older AKM rifles, the Z-111 Factory would convert AKMs and its variants into the new STL-1A rifles. It 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 AK-103, 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.
Aftermath
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, STL-1A and its variants were not mass produced or issued by the Vietnam People's Army. Instead, the PAV adopted the STV rifles as the new standard issue service rifle.