IMI Tavor TAR-21 assault rifle (Israel)

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IMI Tavor TAR-21 assault rifle (Israel)
Caliber: 5.56mm NATO
Action: Gas operated, rotating bolt
Overall length: 720 mm
Barrel length: 460 mm
Weight: 2.8 kg empty, 3.63 kg with loaded 30 rounds magazine & sling
Magazine capacity: 20 or 30 rounds standard
Rate of fire: 750 - 900 rounds per minute

The development of the new assault rifle, that should eventually replace in service the ageing M16A1, CAR-15 and IMI Galil assault rifles, began in Israel in the 1991. The new rifle was developed by the Israel Military Industries (IMI, now TAAS) company, in close cooperation with the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF). This new rifle received the name of "Tavor" and the designation of TAR-21 (Tavor Assault Rifle, for 21st century). The new rifle first appeared on public in the 1998, and it had been tested by the IDF during 1999-2002. At the moment of writing (spring of 2003) there were no large purchases of the Tavor by the IDF, because of low funding, but late in the 2002 India signed an US $20M contract with IMI for undisclosed number of TAR-21 assault rifles and Galatz sniper rifles.






Israel Military Industries is launching the new family of the TAVOR assault rifles. The weapon is offered in four configurations:

• The basic design - the T.A.R-21 Tavor Assault Rifle.
• A sharp-shooting configuration is offered as a squad weapon.
• For commando, airborne, paratroopers and special rescue units, as well as tank crews, a short Tavor assault rifle is offered.
• Micro T.A.R is specially configured for security forces and special missions.

avor uses the proven, compact Bull pup design, which was optimized to best match the ergonomics and mission requirements of the modern warrior, providing natural handling, intuitive aiming from all firing positions and improved hit accuracy. Accuracy and target acquisition is enhanced, by the use of accurate aiming, through the use of an integral reflex optical reflective sight, which projects the aiming point on the center of the sight. Tavor has an attachment for additional sighting devices, such as a 3rd generation night vision sight, which can be installed with no zeroing. Tavor is gas operated, using rotating bolt action. All types use standard NATO 5.56mm ammunition (M855/SS109), accommodate a 30 round magazine and sustain a rate of fire of 750 - 900 rounds per minute, and have the following specifications.

The IDF did not stint on demands, and the IMI did its best to meet the IDF requirements. They know that any rifle that is favored by the IDF has a good chance of being purchased by foreign armies, as the Uzi was.

The new rifle is very different from other rifles. Its body is made from alloy-like metal substitutes; it is extremely lightweight, is a dark green color, and is very well insulated, so that it does not heat up after prolonged firing.
For the first time, product designers were part of the design team for the rifle. The "Formtech" company's designers, who were chosen to design the weapon's shape, were instructed to design a comfortable rifle with a futuristic look.
The Tavor was not equipped with the normal metal sight that requires closing one eye for shooting. Instead, the Tavor has an optical sight known as a "red dot." The soldier looking through the sight sees both his target and the red dot. When the red dot aligns with the target, the bullets fired will make exact hits.
The rifle can also be equipped with a dual-purpose sight: at the press of a button, the sight can be adjusted to a laser finder, so that the rifle can be fired from hip height, using the laser to illuminate the target.
The Tavor is also designed for night fighting. Night goggles can be taken from the soldier's helmet and attached to the rifle, making the red dot system effective also at night. The entire rifle was designed to be user-friendly.
The Tavor was designed to have its center of balance conveniently placed and can be adjusted in minutes for left-handed use.
All the metal parts in the rifle are specially treated to avoid rusting. To make the changeover to the new rifle easy, many parts of the Tavor are located identically to the M-16.


The only problem with the Tavor is its price - the M-16 rifles are purchased from the United States for several tens of dollars a piece, as part of US aid. The Tavor will cost several hundreds of dollars each.

Foreign armies are already interested in the new IMI product, and several designs of the rifle have been prepared, including smaller versions and a special sniper model.

The Tavor TAR-21 is a gas operated, selective fire, magazine fed assault rifle of bullpup configuration. It is available in several configurations, which differ in the barrel lengths and accessories. The basic configuration is the TAR-21 assault rifle with the 460mm (18.1 in) barrel. Next are the compact assault rifle, called CTAR-21, with the barrel 380 mm (15 in) long, and the micro assault rifle, with the barrel of only 250 mm (10 in) long, called MTAR-21. The latter rifle also featured a redesigned front part of the housing, for a more comfortable hold of the short weapon.

TAR-21 utilizes a now-common long piston stroke, rotating bolt action, with the gas piston rigidly attached to the bolt carrier. Gas cylinder is located above the barrel and is completely enclosed by the gun housing. The rotating bolt is similar to one found in the M16 rifle and has seven lugs. The ejection ports are made on both sides of the weapon, and the right or the left side ejection can be selected by installing the bolt with the ejector mounted on the right or on the left, respectively (and, of cause, this change requires the gun to be partially disassembled). The bolt carrier rides on the single guide rod, with the return spring unit located above it, behind and inside the hollow gas piston rod. The charging handle is located at the front left side of the gun and does not reciprocate when gun is fired. The charging handle slots are cut on the both sides of the gun housing, so it can be installed on either side of the weapon, as required. The trigger unit is more or less conventional, with the ambidextrous fire mode selector / safety switch located above the pistol grip.


The TAR-21 has no separate receiver. Instead, all parts are mounted within the high impact-resistant plastic housing, reinforced with steel inserts where appropriate. The access to all the internal parts is controlled by the hinged buttplate, which can be swung down for internal inspection and disassembly.

TAR-21 has no open sights. It is fitted with the standard Picatinny-type accessory rail on the top of the gun. At the present time the standard sighting equipment for the TAR-21 series rifles (except for the STAR-21 sniper rifle) is the Israeli-made ITL MARS, a complicated and expensive reflex-type sight with the built-in laser pointer. For the night time operations the MARS could be complemented with the ITL Mini N/SEAS compact night vision device.

The first prototype of the Tavor in the early 1990's.

Civilian (semi-automatic only) version of the Tavor. Note the different shape of the butt, handguard and the trigger guard, basically similar to that of the Tavor-2. This particular rifle is fitted with Trijicon ACOG telescope sight.