The Tavor Rifle – Development story

The Tavor Rifle is another example arms or arms system developed as a direct result of Israels unique security situation over the decades.

And because it is repeatedly used REAL TIME combat, hence the evolutionary lessons learned from it are immediately implemented (as detailed the DNA of Israels arms industry). In fact, the Tavor rifle is such a grassroots evolutionary rifle, it’s as if the soldiers themselves designed and engineered it. It has all kinds of tiny operational and ergonomic improvements improvements and nuances really only soldiers in combat could have known.

Tavor Rifle in close Quarter Battle drill – as if this rifle was desinged by the soldiers as you can see all the little improvements only soldiers whom were battle can know what to improve (photo credit: Tsafrir Abayov: Flash 90)

When the IDF requested IWI – then only IMI (Israel military industries) – in 1993, to develop a new rifle they told them they aren’t promising to purchase it. They also told them if they do get it they don’t guarantee the amount. The IDF, on its end, provided two permanent IDF staff to IMI labs to take part in the development process – one from the “Technology and Maintenance corps” and the 2nd from the “Ground Arms Command”. The two IDF staff, along with the IMI engineers and Zalman Shavas – head of development at IMI – will characterize the attributes and define the future rifles operational and maintenance needs.

Until the early 90’s, the standard issue IDF rifles were the Israeli Galil and the M4/M16 and each had its advantages and disadvantages. In general the M4/16 was the more accurate yet jammed a lot. That was because of the rifles internal impingement system, which sends gas to the bolt which jammes the rifle if not cleaned regularly, and also because of the sand and dust so common to region which easily penetrates the M4’s internal system (which ISN’T sealed hermetically) and jammes it. The Galil, on the other hand, is an AK variant which means it jammes much less. That is because it uses a gas operated loading system which allows the rifle to be used MUCH more without cleaning. On the other hand the Galil is heavier and harder to maneuver and, even though it’s more accurate than the AK, still not like the M4/16.

Tavor “run over by a car” durability test.

and the Tavor “Sand Test”

So clearly the next rifle needs to be a cohesion of the advantages, without the disadvantages, of both rifles. It most importantly needs to be a better fit for asymmetrical Close quarter battle warfare (i.e. CQB) – the rising type of the conflict Israel and most western armies had to deal with since the 80’s. Asymmetric urban CQB is an environment both the above 2 rifles COULD deal with, but the IDF wanted a better rifle for such warfare. Over the years, the IDF “collected” evolutionary improvement requests, complaints and defects which needed to be addressed in any kind of future rifle (CQB or not) designed by IMI. And now was the time to design such a rifle with all the improvements.

The engineers understood that the main improvements needed are a vast array of ergonomic changes to improve functionality, in CQB or otherwise. They needed to improve how the soldier holds and runs with the rifle, gets in out of Humvee’s or trucks, lies down with it, maneuvers in battle and more. They also needed it to be the most reliable rifle there is tolerating huge amounts of sand and dust so common for the middle east. But most importantly, they needed to improve how comfortably a soldier positions himself in a firing position to hit the target.

The whole engineering team immediately understood a shorter, low weight yet accurate rifle meant a Bullpup. A Bullpup? A shorter rifle in which the magazine is BEHIND the trigger. It shortens rifle length without compromising barrel length and hence accuracy. It also improves both maneuverability and accuracy without compromising the latter. And also, because the mag and the main engine are in the center/ back, than that is where the majority of the weight is, hence which improves holding, aiming and firing accurately as the body consumes most of the weight and recoil when firing.

Early Tavor prototype in the 90’s (photo credit” Military Arms channel)

The rifle will have to be at the most 72 cm and barrel at the most 46 cm like the Galil or Negev, in order to provide accuracy for a 300-500 meter range. Because it also needs to be as light as possible, than it required materials with a high weight/strength ratio. The materials chosen for the rifle were stainless steel for the inner system, and  Polymer and unified compressed sheet materials on as much else of the rifle as possible. Luckily, IMI is a pioneer in these kinds of materials.

In addition to the engineers came up with a slew of other unique engineering ergonomic improvements which improve functionality and comfort. Improvements like the ability to hold the rifle in 6 positions, being fully ambidextrous, with a fast and easy reload by being able to release the mag with a small movement of your thumb without taking your eyes, rifle and most importantly scope off target.

Another thing the new rifle addressed was the day and night rifle scope. In other rifles, Every time you needed to replace the day and night scopes, when you put the regular scope back on you needed to reset the accuracy. The engineers solved it by putting regular scope permanently, as part of the rifles frame, and when you wanted a night scope you could put it BEHIND the regular scope. After you put the night scope on it would sync easily with the regular scope in front of it. And off course when you wanted the day scope back all you needed to do is remove the night scope (although the built in scope is NOT in the civilian version).

Tavor Rifle with the default built in scope.

The engineers also addressed and improved the rifle maintenance by making it easier and faster to fieldstrip it. With just a push of a button you can open it, pull out the system, clean it, and put it back in. Also there are NO small parts and even in the secondary strip none of the small pins can disconnect from main frame hence there are no tiny pin headaches.

Eventually after 6 years development, in 2001, the rifle was finally put to vigorous tests against the M4/16 (the Galil was pretty much retired by then). It was tested in all combat variations and terrains the IDF could or will encounter. It was testes in CQB, capturing a fortified positions, conventional warfare, and water, sand dust and etc. It beat hands down the M4-16 in accuracy, ergonomics and reliability and more.

They were first put to use in the IDF in operation Defensive Shield in 2002 and following positive reviews it was decided to turn the rifle into the standard issue rifle…and since like they say the “rest is History” and lot water went through the river since then. In 2010 the X95, the mini Tavor, became the IDF’s infantry’s standard issue rifle, it saw “action” in all the IDF ‘s major engagements since then, won the Rifle of the year by the “American Rifleman” golden bullseye award and etc. But most importantly it used by, literally, dozens of armies, SF and police forces around the globe.

Gaza 2014 war – almost all the IDF soldiers are with Tavor rifles.