IMI Tavor TAR-21

The TAR-21 (or simply Tavor) is an Israeli bullpup assault rifle chambered for 5.56×45mm NATO ammunition with a selective fire system, selecting between semi-automatic mode, burst mode, and full automatic fire mode. It is named after Mount Tavor, while "TAR-21" stands for "Tavor Assault Rifle - 21st Century". It is the standard issued weapon of the Israeli infantry. The MTAR-21 (Micro Tavor) was recently selected as the future assault rifle of the Israeli Defense Forces, and some infantry division are being issued with the rifle, replacing the bigger and standard TAR-21. The TAR-21 uses a bullpup design, as seen with the French FAMAS, the British SA80, Austrian Steyr AUG, and the Chinese Norinco QBZ-95. Bullpup rifles are configured in a layout in which the bolt carrier group is placed behind the pistol grip; this shortens the overall length but does not sacrifice barrel length. The TAR-21 provides carbine length, but rifle muzzle velocity. The bullpup design is also used to minimize the silhouette of soldiers and to maximize effectiveness in turning corners in urban warfare.

The TAR-21 has ejection ports on both sides of the rifle so it can easily be reconfigured for right or left-handed shooters. However, this process requires partial disassembly, so it can not be quickly reconfigured while the rifle is in use.

The TAR-21 design was created by Zalmen Shebs, with the express purpose of creating a weapon more suited to urban combat than the M16/M4 carbine. It is based on advanced ergonomics and composite materials in order to produce a more comfortable and reliable rifle. The TAR-21 is waterproof and lightweight. The weapon has a built in laser and MARS red dot sight; one of the main advantages of having a built in system is that the weapon does not have to be zeroed after each use, but the TAR-21 can also be mounted with an array of different scopes such as EOTech holographic weapon sights, night vision systems and other electronic devices.

The TAR-21 accepts standard STANAG magazines. It can also be mounted with the M203 grenade launcher. Its ambidextrous fire mode selector above the pistol grip has a semi-automatic mode, burst mode, and a fully automatic mode.

Variants

The Tavor assault rifle comes in different variations:^[3]

• TAR-21 - standard version intended for multirole infantry.
  • GTAR-21 - standard version with notched barrel, to accept an M203 40 mm under-barrel grenade launcher.
• CTAR-21 - compact short barrel version intended for commandos and special forces.
• STAR-21 - designated marksman version with folding under-barrel bipod and Trijicon ACOG 4× magnification sight.
• MTAR-21 - see below.
  • Zittara - Indian locally produced version of the MTAR-21 Micro Tavor modified to use the local 5.56×30mm MINSAS cartridge.

Micro Tavor

The Micro Tavor (MTAR-21), also designated X-95 and sometimes called Tavor-2, is a stand-alone extremely compact weapon specifically designed for special forces units, as well as military personnel who are normally not issued long assault rifles.

With the use of a relatively simple conversion kit, the MTAR-21 can be converted from a 5.56 mm assault rifle to a 9 mm submachine gun loaded with 20, 25, and 32-round magazines. A suppressor can also be added to the weapon, it is part of the 9 mm conversion kit. An integrated grenade launcher is currently being developed for the Micro Tavor. In November 2009, the Micro Tavor was selected as the future standard infantry weapon of the IDF.^[4]

Semi-automatic

The semi-automatic Tavor Carbine (TC-21) has been conceived for civilian customers, and as a police patrol carbine for those countries, or law enforcement agencies, where full-automatic firearms are issued only to SWAT-like units. A semi-automatic Tavor carbine was first seen at the 2002 SHOT Show, when agreements were announced between IMI and the Barrett Firearms Company to manufacture the Tavor in both its military and civilian variants in the United States.^[5] This was probably done in order to allow Israel to procure the Tavor using United States military aid money, since, according to American military assistance agreements, said funds must be spent to purchase US-manufactured equipments. The agreement between IMI and Barrett was never finalized, and the semi-automatic Tavor carbine as shown at the 2002 SHOT Show was never manufactured, although that specific design has recently resurfaced. The current Tavor Carbine, made in Israel by IWI, has been designed with slightly shortened barrel, otherwise being identical to the standard TAR-21 assault rifle. As of 2008, it is available for civilian customers to purchase in Canada.^[6] The Canadian civilian version comes standard with the Mepro reflex sight and a slightly longer barrel to meet the Canadian requirement for non-restricted semi-automatic centerfire rifles to have a barrel length of at least 470 mm. There was a report by Charles Daly President Micheal Kassnar that plans were being made to import, or at least partially build, the Tavor in the United States, which was released through the Charles Daly forums.^[7] However, since that time Charles Daly has gone out of business and the prospect of the sale of a semi-automatic version of the Tavor for the American civilian market is currently in question.

Users

Indigenous users

•  Israel: After initial testing within Israel Defense Forces' infantry training units, the TAR-21 was distributed to members of the training company of the Tzabar Battalion from the Givati Brigade who were drafted in August 2001. They received their rifles in November 2001 during basic training. Initial results have been favorable - the TAR-21 was found to be significantly more accurate and reliable (as well as more comfortable) than the M4 carbine during extensive field testing - but the battle proven and widely issued M4A3 rifle and its variants will remain in service for some time to come; their unit purchase price is about one third that of the TAR-21. Originally there were some problems with fine sand getting into the Tavor's chamber, but reportedly, numerous adjustments were made and the problem has been corrected. Tavor CTAR-21 rifles saw combat service in Operation Cast Lead, used by Givati Brigade and Golani Brigade, and the soldiers reported the Tavor rifles functioned flawlessly.^[8]

The rifle is in use by all the IDF regular Infantry battalions and brigades, except for Paratroopers Brigade.

In November 2009, it was announced that the Micro Tavor (MTAR-21), as opposed to the TAR-21, would become the standard infantry weapon of the IDF, with the addition of an integrated grenade-launcher.^[4]

Foreign users

•  Azerbaijan: Azerbaijan purchased a number of TAR-21 for the special operations forces of the Azerbaijani Army in August 2008.^[9]
•  Brazil: Taurus, the local firearms manufacturer, produces the Tavor rifles under license for the national market and offers this weapon to the Brazilian Army.^[10]
•  Colombia: The Colombian Army operates the TAR-21 for their special forces, in the army, marines and in the Colombian national police.^[11]
•  Ethiopia: Ethiopian Prime Minister bodyguards were seen with the TAR-21.^[12][13]
•  Georgia: Since 2001, the Georgian Army has entered into a USD 65 million supply agreement for approximately 7,000 TAR-21 rifles (including different variants and grenade launchers). Uses all TAR-21 variants.^[14] The rifle was first revealed to the public during a military parade in 2005 with a Special Forces Battalion named Gulua Group carrying it. Further arrangements like a Tar-21 production facility in Georgia was dropped from Israeli side.
•  Guatemala: Guatemala's police force or PNC (Policia Nacional Civil) operates the TAR-21 for routine tasks, and some special operations.^[15]
•  India: In late 2002, India signed an INR 880 million (about USD 17.7 million) deal with Israel Military Industries for 3,070 Tavor assault rifles to be issued to India's special forces personnel,^[16] where its ergonomics, reliability in heat and sand, and fast-point/fast-shoot design might give them an edge at close-quarters and employment from inside vehicles. By 2005, IMI had supplied 350–400 Tavors 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 Tavor has now entered operational service – even as India gears up for a larger competition that could feature a 9 mm MTAR-21 version.^[17] Known as the Zittara in Indian service,^[18] the new Tavors have a modified single-piece stock and new sights, as well as Turkish-made MKEK T-40 40 mm under-barrel grenade launchers.^[17] 5,500 have been recently inducted and more rifles are being ordered.^[19] The Indian Navy's elite marine commandos are also preparing to adopt the assault rifles. A consignment of over 500 TAR-21 Tavor assault rifles and another 30 Galil sniper rifles worth over INR 150 million (USD 3.3 million) and INR 20 million respectively was delivered to the MARCOS (marine commandos) in December 2010.^[20] CRPF has ordered 12000 micro tavor rifles also known as X-95 and it received the first shipment of the rifles in early 2011.
•  Nigeria The State Security Service employ it as the primary assault rifle for their close protection and tactical units replacing the Uzi.^[21]
•  Philippines Small quantities in use by special units of the Philippine Marines.^[22] Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) also has 120 units of CTAR,^[23] while Philippine National Police - Special Boat Unit was also issued with Tavors.^[24]
•  Portugal: Small quantities of the TAR-21 are in use by field and intervention units of the Polícia Judiciária, like hostage negotiation teams and investigators who usually work alongside other dedicated law enforcement intervention units—the Special Operations Group (GOE) and the National Republican Guard's Special Operations Company (COE); these weapons were initially intended to equip a new unit under the command of the Polícia Judiciária resembling the GOE. The TAR-21 also participated in the competition for the new service rifle for the three branches of the Portuguese Armed Forces and the Police Special Operations Group (GOE)—a bid that also included the local production of the TAR-21 in Portugal. However, the TAR-21 was excluded from the shortlist. The competition has meanwhile been annulled, after the other contenders and both political and defense critics accused the competition of favoring the Heckler & Koch G36.^[25][26]
•  Thailand: The Royal Thai Army purchased 15,000 TAR-21 rifles. The second batch of 15,037 was ordered on September 9, 2008.^[27] An additional 13,868 Tavor assault rifles for USD 27.77 million (THB 964.99 million) are to be purchased through three payments.^[28] However, the source from Royal Thai Army stated that they have approved the third batch of 13,868 Tavor assault rifles on 15 September 2009 and the fourth batch of 13,868 Tavor assault rifles on 22 September 2009 with the accumulated number of 58,206 Tavor TAR-21 rifles. The reason for the continuing purchases of IMI Tavor TAR-21 rifles is due to the fact that Royal Thai Army want to retire those 106,205 M16A1 rifles in the ordinances.^[29]
•  Ukraine: Yuriy Lutsenko, head of Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine, announced on October 1, 2008 that Israel Weapon Industries and the Ukrainian research and production company RPC Fort will jointly manufacture the Tavor TAR-21 assault rifle, that will enter service with special Ukrainian military and police special units.^[30][31]

References

External links

• Israel Weapon Industries (I.W.I.): TAVOR TAR-21 5.56 mm
• Israel Weapon Industries (I.W.I.): Micro TAVOR MTAR-21 5.56 mm / 9×19 mm
• Tavor Israeli Weapons: The TAR-21 Tavor assault rifle
• Tavor-2 : Tavor-2 Advanced Assault rifle and Micro-Tavor
• Modern Firearms
• Arms World
• Israel's Infantry 2000 program
• Multi-Purpose munitions for the Tavor
• Tavor Program Update
• TAR-21 Indian made version (Zittara) manufactured by IOF