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dizimov

From M70 to Sanctions

 

Yugoslavian National Army included assault rifle M70 in calibre 7.62 x 39 mm into its armament in 1970. During the same year, the factory developed sporting rifle M70, of Mauser system for 16 most widely used hunting calibres.

The development of anti-aircraft three-barrel cannon R20/3 mm, with fire control device J171 was finished in 1971. During the folowing year, the factory started the development of infantry cannon 20/1, in calibre 20mm, that was afterwards named model M75, and it started batch production of field cannon 20/4 mm M57 A4.

A new workshop for production of prototypes was built in 1972.

Batch production of AA cannon T 20/3 mm M55 A2B1 with manual guidance and collimator mechanical aiming device of domestic design (PANS-20/3) was started in 1975. The factory started the production of side-by-side shotgun M75 12/70 and 16/70.

In 1977, the factory produced a pilot batch of 100 guns 20/3 mm M55 A4B1 with Galileo system.


The factory bought the licence for AA cannon 40 mm Bofors L/70 with laser-computer group from Swedish company Bofors.  The factory also developed automatic rifle and light machine gun for NATO cartridge 7.62x51, model M77, for export.

Workshop for manual engraving was founded during the same year.

Production plant, intended for production of artillery and anti-aircraft guns up to calibres of was finished and and it started to work in 1978.

Batch production of AA cannon 20/3 mm M55 A3B1 with the device for semi-automatic movement on the principle of mechanical-fractional variator with a benzine rotary engine Wankel was started in 1978.

In 1979, Infantry cannon 20/1 mm M75 was included in the armamment of the Yugoslavian National Army and the factory started batch production immediately. The factory started the development of groups if automatic weapons in calibres 5,56 mm and 5,45 mm.

The development of the first Yugoslavian 30 mm automatic cannon started in 1979. An experienced designed, Bozidar Blagojevic - Zida was the head of the project. The factory also developed a new over-and-under shotgun M80 BOCK, gauge 12/70.

In 1982, the factory started the batch production of the turret for infantry combat vehicle (BVP) M80 with buil-in formation weapons: 20 mm cannon, 7.62x54 machine gun and two launchers for anti-tank guided rockets Maljutka. The factory also started the development of 5,56 mm submachine gun M85, based on Russian submachine gun AKS74U.

The fitting of light self-propelled AA cannon 20/3 mm M55 A4M1, with Galileo devices J171 to vehicle BOV 3 with four-wheel drive -  4x4 (BOV-M) was finished during the following year.


At Victory Day parade in 1985 in Belgrade, the factory showed four anti-aircraft two-barrel artillery systems with 30 mm cannons designed by Bozidar Blagojevic. The cannons were included in the armament of the Yugoslavian National Army as automatic cannon M86.

During the same year, the factory continued the development of two-barrel anti-aircraft artillery system, FOKA, by introducing a modern fire control system of Swiss company Contraves. The factory designed a two-seat turret with the possibility of receiving data on the target from the radar. The commander had a device for panoramic viewing. The turret moved using servo-electro system made by French company SAMM.

The development of turret VIDRA for the assembly to infantry combat vehicle started in 1985. 30 mm cannon was built into the turret. The factory produced first submachine gun M85 in NATO calibre 5.56x45 mm and developed Mini Mauser sporting rifle M85, for the American market.

In 1986, the factory built and set to work Sektor C, a workshop for assembly and testing of prototypes with a 100 m tunnel, and the building of engineering-computer centre IRC. Computer centre is equipped with IBM computers and IBM licenced designing software - CADAM. Investment was supported by the Ministry of Defense. 

Production of 30 mm cannon M86 for turret system VIDRA started in1987.  The factory contracted the production of 10 turrets with 30 mm cannons - pilot batch. The plant for production of machine guns M84, M86 in 7.62x54 and heavy machine gun in 12.7 NSV M87 was set to operation as well.

In 1988, the factory developed a compact design pistol in 9 mm Parabellum model M88.

The development of self-propellent AA two-barrel artillery system FOKA on caterpillar track chassis was finished in 1989. Design testing was done in the presence of experts from Switzerland and France. Final testing, in the presence of experts from forein companies that were included in the project was successfully done in the autumn of 1989.

In july of the sam year, the factory started the development of the first double-action pistol in calibre 9mm PARA CZ 99. Technical demands were set by an American partner, with the intention to offer the US Army and Police to test the pistol. First pieces were made during the same year and they were shoen to the ordering party.

Pistol CZ 99 was presented for the first time in Las Vegas, USA, on January 19, 1990. 

Batch production of pistol CZ 99 started in 1991.

In 1992, the factory finished the development and testing and started batch production of 7.62 mm submachine gun M92, based on submachine gun M85.

 On May 19, 1992 UN Security Council  brought sanctions to import and export of weapons for Socialist Federative Republic of Yugoslavia. That stops the placement of Zastava's weapons to foreign markets and the factory falls into crisis. The export of large quantities of new pistol CZ99 that the factory planned was postponed for some other time.