Norinco

**Norinco** is a defense corporation that produces a large range of different products, with their biggest divisions being small arms, ammunition and explosives manufacturing with significant interests in heavy weapons, ground vehicles and mech production. The company has also been involved in several civil engineering projects on hundreds of worlds through their direct contracting service and their construction equipment. Norinco has contracts with many system states and governments, but has also become very prolific in the commercial arms market where its affordable firearms are incredibly popular. Nornico is one of the largest manufacturer of weapons in the universe.

## History

Norinco began its existence in 1980 when the government of China authorized its founders to organize and create a state-owned arms company with the intent of consolidating all of the nation's arm manufacturing. With a sizable injection of money from the Chinese government, Norinco grew rapidly through the 1980s. Along with providing arms to the Chinese government, they also sold their arms extensively on the international market and armed several nations and organizations both legal or otherwise. When the Chinese government needed a general contractor for large construction projects, they had Norinco factories churn out the machines and equipment needed, starting their construction division. Eventually this division included actual construction contractors. When colonists started striking out into space in the 2140s, Norinco made firearms and ammunition were popular amongst colonists and explorers due to their cheap cost and overall acceptable quality. After World War III, the newly reformed Chinese government allowed Norinco to become entirely privatized. With the founding of the Terrene Protectorate, Norinco was able to reestablish trade with the colonies without government interference, and their market value climbed sharply. They would sell a great deal of arms to the Theocracy of Kluex. They are noted as having largely armed both sides of the First Avian Civil War. During the Terrene-Simian War, Norinco factories had a higher product output than any other arms manufacturer. They have continued to be extremely profitable, especially with the onset of the Terrene War where their war materials are found on practically every battlefield. Norinco relocated to its HQ on Luna after the destruction of Earth.

### Reputation

Norinco's firearms and ammunition for which they are mostly associated with are widely viewed as being competently made while overall having a very limited amount of workmanship. Norinco's reputation beyond that has to deal with their less than legal dealings. Norinco weapons are the most commonly used by criminal and terrorist organizations. Their guns have been captured in mass quantities from even the FLF, and their products also frequently end up in systems where their ownership is prohibited. Norinco has continuously maintained an aloof public attitude, claiming that they always work within the boundaries set for them. Many corrupt officials have been linked to Norinco representatives, but thus far the company has been able to detach every scandal its encountered and continues to grow.

## Notable Products

### Weapons

AR-15 - Unlicensed copies of the popular Armalite pattern rifles. Includes M16A1s, A4s and the SCR.

AR-18 - Unlicensed copy of the assault rifle, targeted towards militaries in poorer system states.

Kalashnikovs - Unlicensed copies of almost the entirety of the Kalashnikov family of rifles most commonly AKMs, AK-47s, AK-74s, AK-74Us, PKMs, RPKs, and SVDs.

Mosin Nagant - Bolt action rifle with expired patents. Very popular on the civilian market, commonly sold with a factory fixed scope.

Hanyang 88 - Bolt action rifle with expired patents.

Double Barrel Shotguns - Cheap shotguns common on the hunting and home defense markets.

KS-23 - Unlicensed copy of the pump-action shotgun.

Makarov - Very popular pistol with expired patents. Makes up 20% of all their sales.

M1911 - Cheap and unlicensed copies of the popular American pistol.

DP-26 - Very old light machine gun design, marketed towards militias and paramilitary groups. Popular with pirates.

RPG-7 - Unlicensed copy of the classic rocket propelled grenade. Very popular.

PPS-43 - Submachine gun with expired patents. Very common among pirates and bandits, as well as several guerilla forces.

### Ammunition

7.62x39mm

5.56x45mm

7.62x54R

7.62x51mm

7.92x57mm

9x18mm

9x19mm

7.62×25mm

.45 ACP

23x75mmR

12 gauge shotgun shells