IWI Tavor X95

The IWI X95 (formerly known as the Micro-Tavor, MTAR or MTAR-21) is an Israeli bullpup assault rifle designed and produced by Israel Weapon Industries (IWI) as part of the Tavor rifle family, along with the Tavor TAR and the Tavor 7.

History

In November 2009, the X95 was selected as the future standard-issue weapon of the Israeli infantry.

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.[citation needed]

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 380mm (15.0in) barrel, instead of the original 330mm (13.0in) barrel of the X95, and a lighter trigger pull. In September 2021, it was reported that Israeli front-line infantry units have begun replacing their Tavor and Micro Tavor Rifles with M4s and that the Micro Tavor Rifles in existing inventory will be transitioned to reserve brigades.

On 7 September 2021, a report was published on the IDF's Hebrew website that the IDF plans to continue acquiring the Micro Tavor and equipping combat units with it.

Design

The X95 can be easily distinguished from the TAR-21 (as well as from the CTAR-21, STAR-21, and GTAR-21) by the location of its charging handle.

The X95's charging handle is closer to the pistol grip, whilst the TAR-21's charging handle is closer to its muzzle.

The X95 also features a redesigned buttstock and a magazine release near the pistol grip.

Compared to the 890mm (35in) long M4 carbine (with its stock extended) with a 368mm (14.5in) barrel, the X95 is 580mm (22.8in), 640mm (25.2in), or 670mm (26.4in) long, with either a 330mm (13in), 380mm (15in), or a 419mm (16.5in) barrel, respectively.

Action

As of Spring 2020, all new 5.56×45mm NATO production X95's were upgraded with the .300 AAC Blackout recoil mechanism.

Conversion

With the use of a relatively simple conversion kit, the X95 can be converted from a 5.56mm assault rifle to a 9mm submachine gun.

A suppressor can also be attached, as part of the 9mm conversion kit, or as part of a replacement handguard which integrates the muzzle brake, suppressor, and handguard.

When configured in 9mm, the X95 uses a blowback system to cycle through the ammunition, whilst using the same body as the gas-operated rifle system. It uses Colt 9mm SMG magazines. The barrel is of the same length as of the rifle configuration, but has a 1:10in rifling twist to stabilise the heavy 9mm round.

Accessories

The X95 has its own underslung grenade launcher, the X95 GL 40. A discontinued production model of the X95, the X95-GL had the capability to mount an M203 grenade launcher on an extended notched barrel.

There are three different handguards currently available for the X95:

1. the first being rounded so it can mount the suppressor inside of the handguard, and is currently only available for military issue
2. the second is a rectangular one with integrated rails at the 3, 6 and 9 o'clock positions, and has removable rail covers
3. the third is an elongated version of the second, made for IWI US Tavor 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.

The X95 comes with the option of changing out the pistol grip with either the standard Tavor Talon trigger guard, a traditional trigger guard, or any compatible third-party accessory.

Variants

The X95 comes in a number of variants (including):

X95

The X95 is chambered in either 5.56×45mm NATO or .300 AAC Blackout. The .300 BLK configuration features a gas regulator for both supersonic and subsonic loads.

X95-R

The X95-R is chambered in 5.45×39mm and can easily be rechambered to the three other calibres that IWI offers:

X95 SMG

The X95 SMG is chambered in 9×19mm Parabellum and is also available as a conversion kit.

Licensed variants

Civilian variants

IWI US

IWI US offers the rifle in semi-automatic only configuration as the 'Tavor X95'.

All Tavor X95s sold on the U.S. civilian market are semi-automatic only and come with an elongated handguard and a thicker buttpad to comply with the firearm laws of the U.S.

IWI US retails the Tavor X95s in a variety of colours, 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 other colour letters.

IWI Canada

All Tavor X95s sold on the Canadian civilian market are semi-automatic only and come in both "Restricted" and "Non-restricted" classifications.

The "Restricted" models have a 13.0in (330mm) barrel and were made available starting 2021. They are only available as used, Israeli surplus firearms, and come with either square or circular handguards.

The "Non-restricted" models have a 18.6in (470mm) barrel with an overall length of 28.4in (720mm) and are available as new or surplus.

Users

• Angola: The Angolan Armed Forces use the X95.
• Argentina: Tucuman Provincial Police and Argentine Naval Prefecture.
• Azerbaijan: State Border Service (Azerbaijan) and Marine Infantry of Azerbaijan uses the X95.
• Colombia: The National Police of Colombia uses the X95.[bettersourceneeded]
• Cyprus: The Χ95 is used by the Cypriot Special Forces.
• Georgia: Used mostly by security services and protection details.
• Honduras: The Honduran Army uses the X95.
• India: India's Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) ordered 12,000 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 ₹880 million(equivalent to₹3.4billionorUS$35million in 2023) 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. This works out to a price of ₹286,645(equivalent to₹1.1millionorUS$11,000 in 2023) per rifle. The new Tavor X95s have a modified single-piece stock and new sights, as well as Turkish-made MKEK T-40 40mm under-barrel grenade launchers. 5,500 have been recently inducted and more rifles are being ordered.
• Indonesia: Used by Indonesian Air Force Infantry Special Forces Kopasgat.
• 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 380mm (15.0in) barrel, instead of the original 330mm (13.0in) barrel of the X95, and a lighter trigger pull.
• Morocco: The DGSN has used the X95 since 2018.
• North Macedonia: Used by the Special Anti-terrorist Unit - Tiger.
• Philippines: The Philippine Coast Guard and the Philippine National Police uses the X95.
• Senegal
• Thailand
• 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.
• United States: The Pennsylvania Capitol Police uses the X95.

External links

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