IWI X95

X95 Micro-Tavor

X95 with ITL MARS sight and tactical handle bipod.
Type Bullpup assault rifle
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, also dubbed Micro-Tavor and formerly MTAR-21,[5] is an Israeli bullpup assault rifle, produced by Israel Weapon Industries (IWI). It is a stand-alone derivative of the original IWI Tavor assault rifle.

In November 2009 the X95 was selected as the future standard issued weapon of the Israeli infantry.[6]

History

Initially MTAR-21 was an extremely compact version of the IWI Tavor, but in 2002 the original MTAR-21 design was abandoned and replaced by a newer design known simply as X95 or Micro Tavor.[5]

It is considered by the types manufacturers to be a separate family of assault rifles,[1][7] although sometimes still referred to as Micro Tavor[8] or even MTAR.[9]

Design

Visual differences between Tavor and X95
Original Tavor's (CTAR-21) Ukrainian licensed copy. Notice the cocking handle position, the handguard, and the stock form and size.
X95's Ukrainian licensed 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 Tavor TAR-21 (as well as from CTAR-21 and STAR-21) by the location of the cocking handle. An X95 cocking handle is closer to the pistol grip, while a TAR-21 pistol grip is closer to the muzzle. Additionally, a lower part of the X95 barrel shroud always comes with an integral Picatinny rail, unlike the handguard of the TAR-21. The stock was also slightly redesigned.[9]

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. An integrated grenade launcher is currently being developed for the Micro Tavor.

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.[10]

Compared to the 890 mm (35.0 in) long M4 carbine (with its stock extended) with a 370 mm (14.6 in) barrel, the X95 is 580 mm (22.8 in) long with a 330 mm (13.0 in) barrel.[1][10]

Variants

X95 380 with M203 grenade launcher and Meprolight Mepro-21 reflector sight.

X95 comes in a number of variants (including):[1]

Under IWI license:

Users

Israeli soldiers during Operation Brothers' Keeper armed with X95's.
Contingent from the Azerbaijani military armed with X95's during the Moscow Victory Day Parade, 2015.

 Angola: Angolan Armed Forces operate the X95.[12]

 Azerbaijan: Azerbaijani Armed Forces operate the X95.

 Colombia: The National Police of Colombia operates the X95.[13]

 Israel: In November 2009, the IDF announced that the X95 would become the standard infantry weapon of the IDF, with the addition of an integrated grenade-launcher.[6] 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.[14]

 India: India’s Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) ordered 12,000 X95 rifles which entered service in early 2011.[4] Indian customized version of X95 is known as Zittara, and produced by Ordnance Factories Board.[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]

 Ukraine: RPC Fort offers X95 as Fort-224.[2] Fort-224 is in service of the National Guard of Ukraine.[15]

See also

IWI Tavor

References

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