Zastava M21 Explained

Zastava M21
Origin:	Serbia and Montenegro
Type:	Assault rifle
Is Ranged:	Yes
Used By:	See Users
Wars:	Iraq War Conflict in Peru Syrian Civil War Iraqi Civil War Boko Haram insurgency
Designer:	Marinko Petrović^[1]
Manufacturer:	Zastava Arms
Unit Cost:	630$ (2016)
Production Date:	2004–present
Number:	50,000+
Variants:	See Variants
Weight:	4.15kg (09.15lb) (M21 A) 4.07kg (08.97lb) (M21 S) 3.91kg (08.62lb) (M21 C)
Length:	1000mm stock extended, 750mm stock folded (M21A) 915mm stock extended, 666mm stock folded (M21S) 825mm stock extended, 575mm stock folded (M21C)
Part Length:	460mm (M21 A) 375mm (M21 S) 325mm (M21 C)
Cartridge:	5.56×45mm NATO
Action:	Gas-operated (rotating bolt)
Rate:	680 rounds/min
Velocity:	925 m/s (M21 A) 890 m/s (M21 S M193) 870 m/s (M21 S M855)
Range:	450m (1,480feet) with iron sights 600m (2,000feet) with optics
Feed:	30-round detachable box magazine
Sights:	Adjustable 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 Kalashnikov rifle, chambered in the 5.56×45mm NATO cartridge.^[3] The current models use a 1.5mm thick stamped receiver. The M21 can incorporate picatinny rails for mounting accessories like optics, vertical grips, bipods, etc.

The Zastava M21 is gas operated, long stroke piston with a rotating bolt locking system rifle.^[3] It features a hard chromium-plated, cold forged standard rifled or an optional polygonal rifled barrel, integrated 22mm flash hider grenade launcher, heavy-duty synthetic furniture with a polymer folding stock similarly to the AK-74M, and side optics rail as standard (optional adapter base for cover mounted picatinny rail also available). The rifle can also mount a 40mm under-barrel grenade launcher.^[3] It has a magazine capacity of 30 rounds. The cyclic rate of fire is 680 rounds per minute, and the sustained rate of fire is 120 rounds/min.^[3]

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]
• – Used by National Police.^[8]
• Cameroon – Used by the Rapid Intervention Battalion (BIR)^{[9] [10]}
• Iraq^{[11] [12]}
• Lebanon
• – 500 purchased in 2005.^[13]
• Peru^[14]
• Serbia – standard service rifle of the Serbian Armed Forces and Gendarmery.

See also

• Zastava M70
• Zastava M90
• Zastava M19
• List of assault rifles

External links

• Zastava M21 at Zastava Arms

Notes and References

1. Web site: Patente proglasili kopijom. Glas javnosti. sr. https://web.archive.org/web/20210927162836/http://arhiva.glas-javnosti.rs/arhiva/2004/11/13/srpski/RG04111201.shtml. 2021-09-27.
2. Web site: Assault Rifle M21 A. 25 October 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20221213115809/https://www.zastava-arms.rs/en/assault-rifle-m21/. 2022-12-13.
3. Web site: Welcome to Zastava-arms - Zastava-arms . 25 October 2014 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20120310000840/http://www.zastava-arms.rs/cms/index.php?id=227 . March 10, 2012 .
4. Web site: M21 deo naoružanja Vojske Srbije. B92. sr. 10 February 2008. https://web.archive.org/web/20210917100042/https://www.b92.net/info/vesti/index.php?yyyy=2008&mm=02&dd=10&nav_category=9&nav_id=284297. 2021-09-17.
5. Web site: Assault Rifle M21 S. 25 October 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20191018052756/https://www.zastava-arms.rs/en/militaryproduct/assault-rifle-m21-s. 2019-10-18. dead.
6. Web site: Submachine Gun M21. 25 October 2014. 8 October 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20141008203843/http://www.zastava-arms.rs/en/militaryproduct/submachine-gun-m21. dead.
7. Web site: Zastava Arms Signs $30 Million Tech Transfer Deal with Azerbaijan. Balkan Monitor – A Defence & Security Daily. 24 February 2011. 25 October 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20220216191446/https://balkanmonitor.wordpress.com/2011/02/24/zastava-arms-signs-30-million-tech-transfer-deal-with-azerbaijan/. 2022-02-16.
8. Web site: Arms shipment to Bosnian Serbs stokes EU fears. TheGuardian.com. 13 February 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20221218165148/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/feb/13/bosnian-serb-police-arms-purchase-stokes-eu-fears. 2022-12-18.
9. Web site: Snajperi iz Zastave za Jordan i Indoneziju. Blic. sr. 12 January 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20191018052504/https://www.blic.rs/vesti/tema-dana/snajperi-iz-zastave-za-jordan-i-indoneziju/y40z3m8. 2019-10-18.
10. Web site: Jeremy . Binnie. Erwan. de Cherisey. https://web.archive.org/web/20170622123315/http://www.janes.com/images/assets/520/71520/New-model_African_armies.pdf. New-model African armies. Jane's. 2017. 22 June 2017.
11. Book: Republic of Serbia: Ministry of Economy and of Regional Development. Annual Report on the Transfers of Controlled Goods in 2008. 37. Ministry of Economy (Serbia). 25 October 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20141221190408/http://www.sipri.org/research/armaments/transfers/transparency/national_reports/serbia/SER_08.pdf/view. 21 December 2014. dead. Stockholm International Peace Research Institute.
12. Web site: Iraqi interested in import of M21 rifle. eKapija. 25 October 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20180910204236/https://www.ekapija.com/en/news/125406/iraqi-interested-in-import-of-m21-rifle. 2018-09-10.
13. Book: Living with the Legacy: Small arms and light weapons survey Republic of Serbia. UNDP Serbia and Montenegro. Small Arms Survey. 25 March 2005 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20070928044806/http://www.smallarmssurvey.org/files/portal/spotlight/country/eu_pdf/europe-serbia-2006.pdf . September 28, 2007. 24. 86-7728-002-2 .
14. Web site: NATO vojnici nose srpske puške. Blic. sr. 28 February 2008. https://web.archive.org/web/20190924082748/https://www.blic.rs/vesti/drustvo/nato-vojnici-nose-srpske-puske/bw3xxsh. 2019-09-24.