IWI X95

X95 Micro-Tavor
File:MicroTavorX95MARS.jpg 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: OFB (of India) RPC Fort (of Ukraine)
Variants	See Variants
Specifications
Mass	2.98 kg (6.6 lb) (X95) 2.95 kg (6.5 lb) (SMG) 3.03 kg (6.7 lb) (X95R) 3.05 kg (6.7 lb) (X95L) 3.25 kg (7.2 lb) (X95S)
Length	580 mm (22.8 in) (X95R, SMG) 640 mm (25.2 in) (X95L) 650 mm (25.6 in) (X95S)
Barrel length	330 mm (13.0 in) (X95R, SMG) 380 mm (15.0 in) (X95L) 275 mm (10.8 in) (X95S)
Cartridge	5.56×45mm NATO 9×19mm Parabellum (Optional) 5.56×30mm MINSAS (Zittara) 5.45×39mm (X95R, Fort-224)
Action	Gas-operated, rotating bolt Blowback, closed bolt (9mm)
Rate of fire	700–1000 rounds/min 750–1200 rounds/min (X95S)
Muzzle velocity	860–880 m/s (2,820–2,890 ft/s) 400 m/s (1,310 ft/s) (X95S)
Feed system	30-round STANAG magazines 32-round magazines (9mm)

The Tavor X95, also dubbed Micro-Tavor and formerly MTAR-21, 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.

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. It is treated like a separate family of assault rifles, although sometimes still referred to as Micro Tavor or even MTAR.

Design

See also: IWI Tavor § Design features and engineering

Visual differences between Tavor and X95

File:Interpolitex 2011 (405-22).jpg

Original Tavor's (CTAR-21) Ukrainian licensed copy. Notice the cocking handle position, the handguard, and the stock form and size.

File:Interpolitex 2011 (405-21).jpg

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.

File:Interpolitex 2011 (405-19).jpg

X95's Ukrainian licensed copy, same as the above, but converted to 9×19mm with an optional suppressor and different sights.

File:IWIMicroTavorGrenadeLauncherM203.jpg

X95L with M203 grenade launcher and Meprolight Mepro-21 reflector sight.

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, the 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.

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.

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.

Variants

X95 comes in a number of variants (including):

• X95: 5.56×45mm, compact assault rifle/carbine with 330 mm (13.0 in) barrel and a 1:7 rifling twist.
• X95 SMG: 9×19mm, X95 converted to submachine gun with 330 mm (13.0 in) barrel and a 1:10 rifling twist.
• X95S: 9×19mm, dedicated submachine gun with integrated suppressor, a 275 mm (10.8 in) barrel, rate of fire of ~1200 rds/min and a 1:10 rifling twist.
• X95L: 5.56×45mm, assault rifle with 380 mm (15.0 in) barrel and a 1:7 rifling twist. The length fits with M203 grenade launcher.
• X95R: 5.45×39mm, compact assault rifle/carbine with 330 mm (13.0 in) barrel.
• Zittara: Indian locally produced version of the X95 modified to use the local 5.56×30mm MINSAS cartridge, manufactured by the Ordnance Factories Board.
• Fort-224: Ukrainian locally produced version of the X95 modified to use the widespread Soviet 5.45×39mm cartridge, manufactured by the RPC Fort.
• 7.62 NATO: In March 2013, it was reported that IWI would be making an X95 Tavor chambered in 7.62 NATO.

Users

File:Brother's Keeper Operation in Judea & Samaria (14248086727).jpg

Israeli soldiers during Operation Brothers' Keeper armed with X95s.

File:Парад в честь 70-летия Великой Победы - 33.jpg

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

See also: IWI Tavor § Users

Azerbaijan: Azerbaijani Armed Forces operate the X95.

Colombia: The National Police of Colombia operates the X95.

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. 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 X95 rifles which entered service in early 2011. The Indian customized version of the X95 is known as Zittara, and is produced by Ordnance Factories Board. 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.

Ukraine: RPC Fort offers X95 as Fort-224. Fort-224 is in service with the National Guard of Ukraine.

See also

IWI Tavor

External links

• Israel Weapon Industries (I.W.I.): IWI X95

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