CAVIM
Venezuelan state-owned firearms manufacturer
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
CAVIM (Compañía Anónima Venezolana de Industrias Militares or Venezuelan Company of Military Industries in English) is a Venezuelan state-owned firearms manufacturer, which was created on April 29, 1975.
Native name | Spanish: Compañía Anónima Venezolana de Industrias Militares |
|---|---|
| Company type | State-owned company |
| Industry | Defense |
| Founded | April 29, 1975 |
| Headquarters | , |
Area served | Worldwide |
| Products | Ammunitions, firearms, explosive |
| Owner | Venezuelan Ministry of People's Power for Defense |
| Website | www.cavim.com.ve |
History
CAVIM was created on April 29, 1975 under Presidential Decree No. 883 of the then President of Venezuela Carlos Andrés Pérez on 29 April 1975.[1]
Sanctions
The company was placed under U.S. sanctions in 2013 under the Iran, North Korea, and Syria Nonproliferation Act (INKSNA).[2]
Products
Firearms
CAVIM manufactured the Zamorana in 2006, which is Venezuela's first indigenous small arm.[3] This was made with some parts from the Czech Republic.[4][5]
In 2019 they began the production of CAVIM Caribe a bullpup sub machine gun.
The AK-103 was also licensed to CAVIM for manufacturing in Venezuela with initial licensing fee payments made in 2006 and the transfer of Russian-made AK-103s to Venezuela in 2008.[3] CAVIM's AK-103 factories opened officially in 2012 without the necessary manufacturing equipment.[3][6] CAVIM-made AK-103s were delivered to the Venezuelan Army in 2013.[7]
Due to trouble with the plant with the Russian contractor failing to meet deadlines with a case of fraud, which forced CAVIM to finish the rest of the construction,[8] full-scale production was initially stated to start in 2019,[9] but the first stage of the plant was finally launched on 2 July 2025.[10]
In 2016, CAVIM unveiled the M66 Cazador mortar for the Venezuelan Marine Corp.[11]
UAVs
CAVIM unveiled the Arpia, a licensed version of the Qods Mohajer in 2012,[12] although it was first shown restricted to VIPs in November 2011 at the El Libertador Air Base after Iran and Venezuela signed an agreement to purchase the Mojader in 2007.[13]
Organization
CAVIM is run by the Venezuelan Ministry of People's Power for Defense. It's based in Caracas.[14]