The elite anti-Naxal force, Greyhounds, is all set to acquire the latest Tavor-X95 sub-machine guns for its commandos.The weapons are currently being used by the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) in Jammu and Kashmir and some other parts of the country.
The weapon, manufactured by the Israel Weapon Industries (IWI), which boasts of advanced technology, is considered far more deadlier and sophisticated than the AK-47 assault rifles mainly due to its “higher stability and accuracy.” Sources told Express that senior officials recently tested the X95 at the Greyhounds headquarters after borrowing it from the CRPF centre here in Hyderabad.
“It is easy to handle and the beauty of it is that it can be held in any angle (the user can hold it in six different angles). The weapon serves our purpose. A proposal is being sent to the Government so that an order can be placed through the Union Home Ministry to procure the weapons,” the sources said adding that they were deciding on the number of weapons to be purchased.
Designed to deal with terror threats and customised to suit urban and “open area” combat, the X95 is an improved version of Tavor and comes with a bull pup configuration __ which means its magazine, receiver and bullet chamber are set behind the handle for greater accuracy and power. It has a magazine capacity of 30 rounds and can fire up to 900 rounds per minute.
Importantly, it comes with an in-built silencer and can be fired even from under water -- a capacity the Greyhounds would need engaged as they are almost always in jungle warfare.
Weighing 2.98 kg, the X95 has also been provided to the Commando Battalion for Resolute Action (CoBRA) which again is into jungle warfare.
“It has the semi-automatic mode, burst mode and selective fire system. We are looking at the latest version of X95 which is equipped with an integrated grenade launcher.
This is being developed by the Israeli firm,” a senior official said.