The Serbian company "Zastava oružje" presented in 2004 a new modernization of the "Zastava M64" machine - "Zastava M21".
The Zastava M21 is an assault rifle based on the Kalashnikov assault rifle for NATO 5.56mm caliber. This rifle is designed to completely replace the 7.62 mm caliber M92 / M72 / M70 assault rifles in service with the Serbian armed forces.
History
The history of the creation of weapons under the brand name "Zastava" begins in the 60s, when the Soviet Union gave the go-ahead to the Warsaw Pact countries to produce Kalashnikov assault rifles under official licenses.
The following upgrades have been released:
- Yugoslavian machine gun "Zastava M64", which was a full-fledged copy of the AK-74;
- Zastava M64 A and Zastava M64 B, both were not adopted by the Yugoslav troops;
- The Zastava M70 was put into service in two types - M70 AB2 and M70 B1.
- Zastava M76 - created on the basis of the AK-74, sniper rifle, uses cartridges 7.92 mm, 7.62x51x54 mm;
- Zastava M77 AB1 and M77 B1 - export models of the Zastava M70, 7.62x51 mm cartridges and straight 20-capacious magazines were used;
- Zastava M80 A and M80 - export models M70 B1 with 5.56x45 mm cartridge, created by the Serbian company “Zastava oružje”. There is a modification of this model chambered for 7.62x51 mm;
- Zastava M85 - compact export version of the M80;
- Zastava M90 A and M90 - export modification of the Zastava M80 A and M80, featured an improved flame arrester and build quality;
- Zastava M92 - a compact model based on the Zastava M70, a 7.62x39 mm cartridge is used, as in the domestic AKMSU;
- Zastava M21 - the latest upgrade made by Zastava oružje.
The assault rifle remained an automatic weapon, completely repeating the design of the Kalashnikov assault rifle. The modernization mainly affected the caliber of the machine gun. This is due to the fact that Serbia was striving to become a full-fledged member of the North Atlantic bloc and began to create weapons for the NATO cartridge "SS109".
In addition, the developers of the "Zastava M21" made it possible to install additional equipment of the NATO model, for which a guide of the North Atlantic model "Picatinny" was installed on the receiver.
The designers provide a duplicate firing mode switch located on the left side of the rifle. This feature is copied from the Israeli "Galil", which allows you to control the firing mode without changing the position of the hands. In the dark, the letters denoting the firing modes are highlighted, since tritium was used in their creation.
The polymer stock significantly reduces the weight of the rifle and allows you to fire when folded. The assault rifle's barrel is equipped with a proprietary flame arrester and a grip for a bayonet knife, and the barrel is also chrome-plated.
It is possible to install a 40 mm grenade launcher with a proprietary back plate.
modifications "Zastava M21":
- basic assault rifle with a barrel length of 46 cm;
- a shortened rifle "Zastava M21S" with a barrel length of 37.5 cm;
- export model "Zastava M21SB", which has a folding stock and a carrying handle. The rifle is equipped with straps for attaching additional accessories;
- compact model "Zastava M21C", special modification for special forces. It has a barrel length of 32.5 cm.
Main characteristics:
- ammunition SS109;
- rifle length 998 mm;
- standard barrel 46 cm;
- weight 3.85 kilograms;
- rifle rate of fire 680-560 rds / min;
- effective range of destruction of 600 meters;
- ammunition - magazine for 30 rounds.
Additional Information
The Zastava M21 rifle is used in the armed forces of Serbia and Macedonia, also in service with the Serbian peacekeepers
