Zastava M21

The Zastava M21 is a series of 5.56×45mm NATO rifles developed and manufactured by Zastava Arms in Serbia.^[2]

Zastava M21
Type	Assault rifle
Place of origin	Serbia and Montenegro
Service history
Used by	See Users
Wars	Iraq War Conflict in Peru Syrian Civil War Iraqi Civil War Boko Haram insurgency
Production history
Designer	Marinko Petrović[1]
Manufacturer	Zastava Arms
Unit cost	630$ (2016)
Produced	2004–present
No. built	50,000+
Variants	See Variants
Specifications
Mass	4.15 kg (9.1 lb) (M21 A) 4.07 kg (9.0 lb) (M21 S) 3.91 kg (8.6 lb) (M21 C)
Length	1,000 mm (39 in) stock extended, 750 mm (30 in) stock folded (M21A) 915 mm (36.0 in) stock extended, 666 mm (26.2 in) stock folded (M21S) 815 mm (32.1 in) stock extended, 570 mm (22 in) stock folded (M21C)
Barrel length	460 mm (18 in) (M21 A) 375 mm (14.8 in) (M21 S) 290 mm (11 in) (M21 C)
Cartridge	5.56×45mm NATO
Action	Gas-operated (rotating bolt)
Rate of fire	680 rounds/min
Muzzle velocity	925 m/s (M21 A) 890 m/s (M21 S M193) 870 m/s (M21 S M855)
Effective firing range	450 m (490 yd) with iron sights 600 m (660 yd) with optics
Feed system	30-round detachable box magazine
Sights	Adjustable iron sights, optional mount required for optical sights

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

Serbian gendarmes armed with M21s

• 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

A map with users of the Zastava M21 in blue

• Azerbaijan – Used by special forces^[7]
• Republika Srpska – Used by National Police.^[8]
• Cameroon – Used by the Rapid Intervention Battalion (BIR)^[9][10]
• 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]

See also

• Serbia portal

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