| Type | Public limited company |
|---|---|
| Traded as | RTS:TOZZ |
| Industry | Defence |
| Founded | 1712 |
| Founder(s) | Peter the Great |
| Headquarters | Tula, Russia |
| Key people | Sergey Pariyskiy (CEO)[1] |
| Products | Firearms |
| Net income | US$ -9,913,000 (2009)[2] |
| Total assets | US$ 11,334,000 (2009)[2] |
| Employees | 3600 (August 2010) [3] |
| Website | www.tulatoz.ru |
Tula Arms Plant (or Tulsky Oruzheiny Zavod)(Rus"Тульский оружейный завод") is a Russian weapons manufacturer founded by Tsar Peter I of Russia in 1712[4] in Tula, Russia as Tula Arsenal. Throughout its history, it has produced weapons for whoever controlled the Russian state. Its name was changed from Tula Arsenal to Tula Arms Plant during the Soviet era.
Tula was strategically important to the Soviet Union during the Cold War. Significant ore deposits were situated relatively close to it and it had access to ample transportation routes like the Upa River and many rail lines coming into and out of the city.
During World War II, the German army invaded Russia as part of Operation Barbarossa. By December 5, the German 2nd Panzer Division had advanced to within a few kilometers of Tula, forcing the Soviets to evacuate Tula Arms Plant. As a result, far fewer weapons were produced there than at other Soviet factories such as Izhevsk Mechanical Plant. Consequently, Tula weapons of World War II are considered more valuable by collectors.
Tula Arms Plant is best known for manufacturing the VSS Vintorez, AS Val, OTs-14 Groza, and TOZ rifle weapons designed by TsNIITochMash. During the Soviet era, Tula Arms Plant produced other military rifles, including the Mosin-Nagant, SVT-40, AK-47, and SKS. It was also a major producer of the M1895 revolver.