In this first part of a series looking at Iran’s Defense Industries Organization (DIO) and its products we examine some of the DIO’s submachine guns and rifles.
A Short History on Iranian Small-Arms production
It is considered the oldest modern industrial complex in Iranian history, the history of small-arms production in Iran goes back to the Qajar dynasty. When the prime minister of Naser Al-Din Qajar, Mirza Taghi Khan, which was also known as Amir-Kabir, in 1908 established Ghoor-Khaneh ( قورخانه in Persian ) or the Old Armory Building, the first industrial complex that produced small-arms for the Iranian military in the Toop-Khane neighborhood in the South of Tehran. Years later in 1922, when Reza Shah Pahlavi became the king of Iran, the Iranian government during an agreement started to produce Czech vz. 24 rifles and imported the latest German machinery to modernized the Iranian Army. During World War Two, when Mohamad Reza Shah Pahlavi took power, a part of the machinery in Ghoor-Khane was moved to the new industrial complex called Mosalsal-Sazi-Artesh (Army’s Machinegun factory) in 1944 when the Soviet Union and Iran made an agreement to locally produce the PPSh-41 submachine gun.
It was in the 1970s and the modernization programs which Iran started to locally produce the 7.62×51mm G3A3/A4 battle rifle, the 7.62×51mm MG-3 general-purpose machine gun, and the Soviet RPG-7 launcher. After the Islamic Revolution and the establishment of DIO (Defense Industries Organization), a large variety of small-arms production started in the factory. Throughout the latest products of DIO, currently, the factory produces a series of small-arms which some are the same licensed samples such as G3A3 or Chinese Type 56 7.62×39mm Kalashnikov-pattern rifle and some are locally designed. DIO’s Shahid Hamedani manufacturing plant is currently tasked with producing the current small-arms which are mentioned in this article.
Fig.1.1. Naser Al-Din Qajar photographed during an official visit to the Ghoor-Khaneh (Source: Faradeed.ir)
The Products
The Tondar Koochak SMG
Iranian copy of Heckler & Koch MP5K SMG which is called Tondar Koochak ( تندر کوچک in Persian ) or Tondar shorty. This SMG is produced with the 0-1-20 trigger group. In the DIO’s catalogue it mentions that the Tondar Shorty is specifically designed for VIP protection.
Fig.2.1. The Tondar Koochak SMG (Source: DIO’s 2020 Catalog)
The G3
With the license acquired before the Islamic Revolution, Iran has been known as one of the producers of Heckler & Koch G3 self-loading ‘battle rifles’ for decades. The version of the rifle which is produced by DIO are G3A3 and G3A4, still using the original pistol grip (S-E-F) and HK slim handguard. According to the latest DIO catalog, the Iranian G3 production rifles can be equipped with HK optic mount as well as rifle grenades.
Fig.2.2. DIO produced G3 Catalogue (Source: DIO’s 2021 Catalogue)
Modernized G3
An Iranian effort to locally modernized G3 battle rifle by DIO which the rifle’s buttstock, as well as the handguard, has been upgraded. The butt-stock has been replaced with a marksman/sniper type of stock which the operator can adjust and it is equipped with a cheek pad. The original HK slim handguard has been replaced with a Picatinny 1913 rail system that can accept accessories. Despite the fact the rifle uses rails on the handguard, it still lacks any rails on top for mounting any kind of optic and it seems it would use the original HK optic claw mount if any optic needed.
Fig.3.1. Modernized G3 battle rifle (Source: DIO’s 2021 Catalogue)
KL7 Rifle
Iran has produced the Chinese Type 56 self-loading rifle locally under the name of KL7.62. By DIO’s original catalog the rifle is called “Kelashinkov“ which is an incorrect pronunciation of ‘Kalashnikov’ in the Persian language. Current production of KL7.62 continues in three variants, the KLS (with fixed stock), the KLF (with under folding stock), and KLT (with East German-style AK side folding stock). DIO gives an option in which the customer can add a bayonet for the rifle as well conversation kit that the rifle can fire 5.56×45mm NATO rounds.
Fig.4.1. KL7 rifle (Source: DIO’s 2021 Catalogue)
KLM 7.62
The KLM 7.62 also know as “Kelashinkov Kootah“(کلاشینکف کوتاه in Persian) is a compact version of the KLF rifle which have been included in the latest catalog of DIO. This compact carbine is available in two versions, the first version comes with an under folding stock and wooden handguard and the second version uses a side folding stock similar to East German-produced AKs and it is equipped with Picatinny 1913 standard rail handguard for mounting accessories.
Fig.5.1. The KLM7.62 compact carbine (Source: DIO’s 2021 Catalogue)
Kelashinkov KL-133
DIO’s effort to modernize the KL7 rifle by using polymer parts and AK-103 components is called the KL-133 rifle. This new platform uses a similar buttstock and muzzle brake used in the Kalashnikov Concern-produced AK-100 series self-loading rifles, which have been adopted from the recent purchase of AK-103s from Russia. Another component is the handguard which is equipped with rails so the operator could mount attachments if needed.
Fig.6.1. The KL-133 rifle (Source: DIO’s 2021 Catalogue)
In the next part of this series looking at DIO’s offerings, including AR-15 pattern rifles, precision rifles, and machine guns.
If you enjoy our work here at Silah Report please consider supporting us on Patreon!
ofoHmbSjVqBrQeuWsfXfOtN
uDmNBxBaoDzVkAtxDw
rWVuwOPwVSlIsBCmjnBXg
Thank you, I have received it through a friend of mine in Iran.
The digital copy of the production catalog I acquired from my friend didn’t have SVD or Type79 Sniper rifle/DMRs and I assume they were not added or they are planing to replace it with a new upgraded version of the rifle which they put on display recently.
Nothing on the Type-79/Dragunov copies? I’ve seen these in a couple variations produced in Iran but curious if they are licensed or just reverse engineered.
Interesting stuff Yousef. Been wondering where to look for the brochure since the DIO site was offline.