The IWI Tavor X95 (also called Micro-Tavor, MTAR, and MTAR-21) is an Israeli bullpup assault rifle designed and produced by Israel Weapon Industries (IWI) as part of the Tavor rifle family.
In November 2009 the Tavor X95 was selected as the future standard issued weapon of the Israeli infantry.
Video IWI Tavor X95
Design
The Tavor X95 can be easily distinguished from the TAR-21 (as well as from CTAR-21, STAR-21, and GTAR-21) by the location of the cocking handle. An X95 cocking handle is closer to the pistol grip, while a TAR-21 cocking handle is closer to the muzzle. The stock was also slightly redesigned.
With the use of a relatively simple conversion kit, the Tavor X95 can be converted from a 5.56 mm assault rifle to a 9 mm submachine gun. A suppressor can also be added to the weapon (as of March, 2017), as part of the 9 mm conversion kit, or as part of a replacement hand guard which integrates muzzle break, suppressor, and hand guard. There is also a variant with an integrated grenade launcher, the IWI GL 40.
When configured to fire 9 mm rounds, the gun uses a blowback operation to eject and reload rounds, but in the same body as the gas-operated rifle reloading system. It is fed from Uzi magazines. A suppressor can be mounted that allows for the use of standard velocity 9 mm ammunition, not specialized subsonic ammo. The barrel is the same length as the rifle version, but has a 1:10 in rifling twist to stabilize heavy 9 mm bullets.
Compared to the 890 mm (35 in) long M4 carbine (with its stock extended) with a 370 mm (14.6 in) barrel, the X95 is 580 mm (22.8 in), 640 mm (25.2 in), or 670 mm (26.4 in) long, with either a 330 mm (13 in.), 380 mm (15.0 in), or a 419 mm (16.5 in) barrel, respectively.
Maps IWI Tavor X95
Variants
There are three different handguards currently available for the Tavor X95: the first is rounded (so that one can mount a suppressor and have the suppressor sit inside of the handguard) and is currently only available for military issue; the second is a rectangular one with integrated rails at the 3, 6, and 9 o' clock positions, and has removable rail covers; and the third is an elongated version of the second, made for IWI US X95s. The rounded handguard originally had separate picatinny rails on the receiver and handguard, but IWI has produced a full length flattop rail and an underside rail for it; the other two handguards have integrated flattop rails.
Every Tavor X95 comes with the option of the standard Tavor Talon trigger guard or a traditional trigger guard.
The Tavor X95 comes in a number of variants (including):
- X95 330: 5.56×45mm carbine with a 330 mm (13 in) barrel and a 580 mm (22.8 in) overall length.
- X95 380: 5.56×45mm assault rifle with a 380 mm (15 in) barrel and a 640 mm (25.2 in) overall length.
- X95 419: 5.56×45mm assault rifle with a 419 mm (16.5 in) barrel and a 670 mm (26.4 in) overall length.
- X95-L: An X95 419 that is semi-automatic only, has an integrated bipod, and is issued with a long-range sight. Intended for marksman use.
- X95-GL: 5.56mm assault rifle with a 419mm (16.5 in) barrel; integrated grenade launcher (usually the IWI GL 40).
- X95-R 330: 5.45×39mm carbine with a 330 mm (13 in) barrel and a 580 mm (22.8 in) overall length.
- X95-R 419: 5.45×39mm assault rifle with a 419 mm (16.5 in) barrel and a 670 mm (26.4 in) overall length.
- X95 SMG: 9×19mm submachine gun with a 279 mm (11 in) barrel and a 580 mm (22.8 in) overall length.
- X95-S SMG: 9×19mm submachine gun with a 279 mm (11 in) barrel and a 650 mm (25.6 in) overall length; integrated suppressor.
- .300 AAC BLK: .300 AAC Blackout assault rifle / carbine; simply a standard X95 re-barreled in .300 Blackout.
Under IWI license:
- Zittara: Indian locally produced version of the X95 modified to use the local 5.56×30mm MINSAS cartridge, manufactured by the Ordnance Factories Board. However, it was not adopted for service.
- Fort-223: Ukrainian locally produced version of the X95 330, readily converted to the X95 SMG or X95-S SMG, manufactured by the RPC Fort.
- Fort-224: Ukrainian locally produced version of the X95-R 330 manufactured by the RPC Fort.
Under IWI US:
All X95s sold on the U.S. civilian market are semi-automatic only, come with an elongated handguard, and a thicker buttpad to comply with the firearm laws of the U.S.
- XB16: A U.S. version of the X95 419, with a 26.125 in (663.575 mm) overall length.
- XB16L: An XB16 with left-handed controls pre-installed.
- XB16-BLK: An XB16 re-barrelled in .300 AAC Blackout.
- XB17-9: 9×19mm sub-caliber carbine with a 17 in (431.8 mm) barrel and a 26.125 in (663.575 mm) overall length.
- XB18: 5.56×45mm rifle with an 18.5 in (469.9 mm) barrel and a 28.125 in (714.375 mm) overall length.
- XB18RS: 5.56×45mm rifle with an 18.5 in (469.9 mm) barrel and a 30.5 in (774.7 mm) overall length; integrated permanent muzzle brake and a 10-round magazine to be compliant with laws of certain states. ("RS" stands for Restricted State.)
Note: IWI US sells their X95s in a variety of colors, including Black (B), Flat Dark Earth (FD), and OD Green (G); the letter "B" in the rifles' designations can be switched with any of the colors' respective letters.
Users
- Angola: Angolan Armed Forces operate the Tavor X95.
- Azerbaijan: Azerbaijani Armed Forces operate the Tavor X95.
- Colombia: The National Police of Colombia operates the Tavor X95.
- Cyprus: The Tavor ?95 is to replace the G3 among the Cyprus National Guard.
- Georgia: Used mostly by security services and protection details.
- Honduras: Honduran Army and special forces operate the Tavor X95.
- Israel: In November 2009, the IDF announced that the Tavor X95 would become the standard infantry weapon of the IDF, with the addition of an integrated grenade-launcher. In 2014 the IDF announced that in the future (from as early as the end of 2014) some infantry units could start to be issued some numbers of an improved X95, which will have a longer 380 mm (15.0 in) barrel, instead of the original 330 mm (13.0 in) barrel of the X95, and a lighter trigger pull.
- India: India's Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) ordered 12,000 Tavor X95 rifles which entered service in early 2011. Following the use of the weapon by Indian forces fighting the insurgency in Kashmir, CRPF commanders have stated that the X95 is a more effective assault rifle than the AKM, due to its small size, power, longer range and lighter weight. In late 2002, India signed an INR880 million (equivalent to INR2.4 billion or US$36 million in 2017) deal with Israel Military Industries for 3,070 manufactured TAR-21s to be issued to India's special forces personnel, where its ergonomics, reliability in heat and sand might give them an edge at close-quarters and employment from inside vehicles. By 2005, IMI had supplied 350-400 TAR-21s to India's northern Special Frontier Force (SFF). These were subsequently declared to be "operationally unsatisfactory". The required changes have since been made, and tests in Israel during 2006 went well, clearing the contracted consignment for delivery. The TAR-21 has now entered operational service - even as India gears up for a larger competition that could feature a 9 mm X95 version. Known as the Zittara, the rifle is manufactured in India by the Ordnance Factories Board for Indian service, although it was never adopted. the new Tavor X95s have a modified single-piece stock and new sights, as well as Turkish-made MKEK T-40 40 mm under-barrel grenade launchers. 5,500 have been recently inducted and more rifles are being ordered. A consignment of over 500 Tavor bullpup assault rifles and another 30 Galil sniper rifles worth over INR150 million (US$2.2 million) and INR20 million (US$300,000) respectively was delivered to the MARCOS (Marine Commandos) in December 2010. In 2016, IWI announced that it was establishing a 49:51 joint venture with Punj Lloyd in India, in order manufacture rifle components in India.
- Mongolia: Special forces
- Morocco: DGSN operates the Tavor X95 since 2018
- Nigeria: In service with the Nigerian navy special boat service.
- Philippines:
- Senegal:
- Thailand: Royal Thai Armed Forces operate the Tavor X95.
- Ukraine: RPC Fort offers the X95 330 as the Fort-223, and the X95-R as the Fort-224. The Fort-224 is in service of the National Guard of Ukraine.
- US: Pennsylvania Capitol Police operate the Tavor X95.
See also
- IWI Tavor
References
External links
- Israel Weapon Industries (I.W.I.): IWI X95
- isayeret.com Tavor Guide
Source of the article : Wikipedia
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