Zastava M21
Zastava M21 | |
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iron sights, optional mount required for optical sights |
The Zastava M21 is a series of 5.56×45mm NATO rifles developed and manufactured by Zastava Arms in Serbia.[2]
Description
The M21 is based on the
The Zastava M21 is gas operated, long stroke piston with a rotating bolt locking system rifle.
The Zastava M21 uses a conventional barrel, while the Zastava M21B uses a polygonal barrel. The regular barrel has six grooves with a right-hand twist. An octagonal polygonal version is also available and has four grooves with a right-hand twist (M21B). Barrels are also hard chrome plated to provide a longer service life.[4]
The rifle has conventional iron sights that consist of a front post and a flip-up rear sight with 300m and 500m apertures. A set of picatinny rails on the hand guard can mount various optoelectronic devices. The M21 is a modular weapon, with configuration dependent on the task and mission.
Choices of optical sights include "TELEOPTIK" (ON M04) and "ZRAK" (ON M04A). Optoelectronic devices include a reflex sight ("MARS" M04), two bookmark target lasers ("AIM2000" M04A and "INFIZ" M04), two passive monoculars (M04 MINI N/SEAS and "MARS" M04+MINI N/SEAS), passive sight ("SOVA" PN 3x50).
Variants
- M21 A – Standard baseline assault rifle.[2]
- M21 ABS – Built-in picatinny rail system.
- M21 S – Compact short barrel assault rifle.[5]
- M21 SBS – Built-in picatinny rail system.
- M21 C – Carbine.[6]
- M21 BS – Built-in picatinny rail system.
Users
- Azerbaijan – Used by special forces[7]
- Republika Srpska – Used by National Police.[8]
- Iraq[11][12]
- Lebanon[11]
- North Macedonia – 500 purchased in 2005.[4][13]
- Peru[14]
- Serbia – standard service rifle of the Serbian Armed Forces and Gendarmery.[4]
- United Kingdom - Used by G4S contractors.[15]
See also
- Zastava M70
- Zastava M90
- Zastava M19
- List of assault rifles
References
- ^ "Patente proglasili kopijom" (in Serbian). Glas javnosti. Archived from the original on 2021-09-27.
- ^ a b "Assault Rifle M21 A". Archived from the original on 2022-12-13. Retrieved 25 October 2014.
- ^ a b c d "Welcome to Zastava-arms - Zastava-arms". Archived from the original on March 10, 2012. Retrieved 25 October 2014.
- ^ a b c "M21 deo naoružanja Vojske Srbije" (in Serbian). B92. 10 February 2008. Archived from the original on 2021-09-17.
- ^ "Assault Rifle M21 S". Archived from the original on 2019-10-18. Retrieved 25 October 2014.
- ^ "Submachine Gun M21". Archived from the original on 8 October 2014. Retrieved 25 October 2014.
- ^ "Zastava Arms Signs $30 Million Tech Transfer Deal with Azerbaijan". Balkan Monitor – A Defence & Security Daily. 24 February 2011. Archived from the original on 2022-02-16. Retrieved 25 October 2014.
- TheGuardian.com. 13 February 2018. Archived from the originalon 2022-12-18.
- ^ "Snajperi iz Zastave za Jordan i Indoneziju" (in Serbian). Blic. 12 January 2011. Archived from the original on 2019-10-18.
- ^ Binnie, Jeremy; de Cherisey, Erwan (2017). "New-model African armies" (PDF). Jane's. Archived from the original (PDF) on 22 June 2017.
- ^ a b Republic of Serbia: Ministry of Economy and of Regional Development. Annual Report on the Transfers of Controlled Goods in 2008. p. 37. Archived from the original on 21 December 2014. Retrieved 25 October 2014 – via Stockholm International Peace Research Institute.
- ^ "Iraqi interested in import of M21 rifle". eKapija. Archived from the original on 2018-09-10. Retrieved 25 October 2014.
- ISBN 86-7728-002-2. Archived from the original(PDF) on September 28, 2007.
- ^ "NATO vojnici nose srpske puške" (in Serbian). Blic. 28 February 2008. Archived from the original on 2019-09-24.
- ^ "Ex-G4S Security Contractor and Double Murderer, Fitzsimons, Secretly Extradited from Iraq". Circuit Magazine. November 27, 2019. Archived from the original on 2022-10-03.