Tavor X95

Tavor X95
Type Bullpup assault rifle, carbine, and submachine gun
Place of origin Israel
Service history
In service 2009–present
Used by See Users
Production history
Designer Israel Weapon Industries
Designed 2003–2009
Manufacturer

Israel Weapon Industries (IWI)
Also produced under IWI license by:

Variants See Variants
Specifications
Weight
  • 3.3–3.4 kg (7.3–7.5 lb) (X95)[1]
  • 3.2–3.6 kg (7.1–7.9 lb) (SMG)[1]
Length 580–670 mm (22.8–26.4 in)[1]
Barrel length
  • 330 mm (13.0 in)[1]
  • 380 mm (15.0 in)[1]
  • 419 mm (16.5 in)[1]
  • 279 mm (11.0 in) (SMG)[1]
Cartridge
Action
Rate of fire 750–950 rounds/min[1]
Sights

The Tavor X95,[5] also dubbed Micro-Tavor,[6] is an Israeli bullpup assault rifle, produced by Israel Weapon Industries (IWI). It is the next rifle in the Tavor family, coming after the TAR-21 and its variants.

In November 2009 the X95 was selected as the future standard issued weapon of the Israeli infantry.[7]

History

Initially the MTAR-21 was an extremely compact version of the CTAR-21, but in 2002 the original MTAR-21 design was overhauled and replaced by a newer design known simply as the Tavor X95 or Micro Tavor.[6]

When IWI was designing the X95, they referred to it as MTAR-21; after 2002, its manufacturer refers to it as the X95 to separate it from the original prototype MTAR-21.[8] It is sometimes referred to as Micro Tavor[9] or even MTAR.[10] There is still a confusion about the names of the X95 and the MTAR-21, as they are often used interchangeably, however they are different weapons entirely.

Design

Visual differences between Tavor and X95
Original Tavor's (CTAR-21) copy. Notice the cocking handle position, the handguard, and the stock form and size.
X95's copy, here with a tactical handle bipod. Notice the cocking handle position, the Picatinny rail, and the stock form and size.

The 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.[10]

With the use of a relatively simple conversion kit, the X95 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, as part of the 9 mm conversion kit. 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.[11]

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.[1][11]

Variants

IDF soldier with the X95 on Mount Hermon.
The X95 during a Warrant Officer course in the Israel Defense Forces.

There are 3 different handguards currently available for the X95: one that is rounded and is currently only available for military issue; it is rounded so that one can mount a suppressor and have it sit inside of the handguard. The second is a rectangular one with integrated rails at the 3, 6, and 9 o' clock positions, and has removable rail covers. The third one is an elongated version of the second, made for IWI US X95s. The rounded handguard originally has separate picatinny rails on the receiver and handguard, but IWI has produced a full length flattop 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):[1]

Under IWI US: All U.S. X95s come with an elongated handguard and a thicker buttpad to meet U.S. laws, though you can purchase the normal handguard and buttpad on the IWI US website.

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.

Under IWI license:

Users

Israeli soldiers armed with X95s.
Contingent from the Azerbaijani military armed with X95s during the Moscow Victory Day Parade, 2015.

 Angola: Angolan Armed Forces operate the Tavor X95.[13]

 Azerbaijan: Azerbaijani Armed Forces operate the Tavor X95.

 Colombia: The National Police of Colombia operates the Tavor X95.[14]

 Honduras: Honduran Army and special forces operate the X95.[15]

 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.[7] 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.[16]

 India: India’s Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) ordered 12,000 Tavor X95 rifles which entered service in early 2011.[4] 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.[4]

In late 2002, India signed an ₹880 million (equivalent to ₹2.4 billion or US$37 million in 2016) deal with Israel Military Industries for 3,070 manufactured TAR-21s to be issued to India's special forces personnel,[17] 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.[18] Known as the Zittara, the rifle is manufactured in India by the Ordnance Factories Board for Indian service,[19] 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.[18] 5,500 have been recently inducted and more rifles are being ordered.[20] A consignment of over 500 Tavor bullpup assault rifles and another 30 Galil sniper rifles worth over ₹150 million (US$2.3 million) and ₹20 million (US$310,000) respectively was delivered to the MARCOS (Marine Commandos) in December 2010.[21]

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.[22]

 Mongolia: Special forces.[23]

 Thailand: Royal Thai Armed Forces operate the Tavor X95.

 Ukraine: RPC Fort offers X95-R as Fort-224.[2] Fort-224 is in service of the National Guard of Ukraine.[24]

 US: Pennsylvania Capitol Police.[25]

See also

IWI Tavor

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 IWI X95 official brochure
  2. 1 2 3 4 "Штурмовая винтовка "Форт-224" калибра 5,56х45мм". www.fort.vn.ua (in Russian).
  3. ↑ IWI presents for the first time the X95 assault rifle in .300 AAC Blackout caliber
  4. 1 2 3 4 Vivek Bhardwaj (February 26, 2016). "Zittara Multi-Purpose Carbine and Assault Rifle,Ofb,Indian Army". aermech.in.
  5. ↑ Tavor X95 IWI US, Official Wesbdite
  6. 1 2 isayeret.com
  7. 1 2 מיקרו–תבור לכל לוחם חי"ר. Dover.idf.il. Retrieved on 2010-08-31.
  8. ↑ Tavor® X95™ Flattop XB16 IWI, Official website
  9. ↑ http://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/2014/12/22/hands-x95-micro-tavor/
  10. 1 2 http://tar21.com/iwi-tavor-tar21-rifle-idf-military-assault-rifles/x95-micro-tavor-compact-rifle-of-the-idf/
  11. 1 2 IWI X95: A Bullpup For IDF Special Forces - SAdefensejournal.com, 21 March 2012
  12. ↑ IWI Developing A 7.62mm Tavor X95 Rifle - Thefirearmblog.com, March 5, 2013
  13. ↑ http://www.operacional.pt/37-o-aniversario-das-forcas-especiais-angolanas/
  14. ↑ IMI Tavor. Unffmm.com. Retrieved on 2010-08-31. Archived July 17, 2011, at the Wayback Machine.
  15. ↑ "Equiparán más unidades con MTAR 21". elheraldo.hn. Retrieved 2012-04-17.
  16. ↑ ישראל דיפנס, הכתבה הופיעה במלואה במקור במגזין "במחנה" גיליון 47, 12 דצמבר 2013.
  17. ↑ "One FIR, Govt blacklists 7 firms, hits artillery upgrade". The Indian Express. 2009-06-05. p. 2. Retrieved 2009-06-09.
  18. 1 2 Tavor-21 Rifle Headed Into Service With Indian Special Forces. Defenseindustrydaily.com (2007-02-28). Retrieved on 2010-08-31.
  19. ↑ Ordnance Factory Board. Ofbindia.gov.in. Retrieved on 2010-08-31.
  20. ↑ "To give 'irregulars' punch, forces go shopping for hi-tech weapons". The Times Of India. 2011-01-13.
  21. ↑ Israeli TAR-21 Tavor Assault Rifles for Indian Navy Commandos Archived 2011-01-16 at the Wayback Machine., 2011-01-12, IANS, bharat-rakshak.com
  22. ↑ IWI Establishes Activity in India Ami Rojkes Dombe | 7/02/2016
  23. ↑ http://dambiev.livejournal.com/687586.html
  24. ↑ http://www.armoury-online.ru/articles/smg/ua/fort-224/
  25. ↑ http://lauraburgess.com/pennsylvania-state-capitol-police-upgrade-iwi-us-tavor-x95/
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