The Israel Ministry of Defense (IMOD) and Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have completed the distribution of thousands of Arad assault rifles produced by Israel Weapon Industries (IWI) to rapid response teams across Israel, the company announced on 8 January 2026.
The distribution of the weapons marks the completion of a procurement programme that underscores Israel’s growing emphasis on standardised, domestically produced defence systems.
Developed for special forces and law enforcement professionals who operate in unforgiving conditions, the Arad is a 5.56 mm assault rifle using the AR design with short-stroke gas-piston operation, full ambidextrous controls and a free-floating hammer-forged barrel “that delivers pinpoint precision under pressure”, IWI states. It features an integrated Picatinny rail and M-LOK handguards, offering numerous customisation options for optics and attachments.
“We are proud to support the IDF with reliable and effective weapon systems that protect our country and our people,” said Ronen Hamudot, vice chairman of IWI parent company SK Group. “The IDF’s expanded adoption of the Arad reflects the system’s operational performance and reliability. Its continued use underscores our commitment to delivering proven, innovative solutions designed to meet the demands of the most challenging operational environments.”
The contract with IWI, which has been valued at NIS 100 million (EUR 27 million), was executed through the IMOD’s Defense Procurement Directorate (DPD) and the Land Acquisition Unit and forms part of a broader initiative led by the ministry and the IDF Ground Forces Command to enhance community-level security and operational readiness nationwide, incorporating lessons learned from the 7 October 2023 terrorist attack on Israel and subsequent war with Hamas.
Beyond the delivery of the rifles, the agreement includes a comprehensive 10-year maintenance and sustainment package to ensure long-term availability and lifecycle support. As part of the programme, Meprolight M5 red-dot sights, sourced from existing IDF inventories, have been mounted on the weapons, further standardising equipment across rapid-response formations.
The initiative reflects Israel’s evolving procurement strategy, linking operational experience, industrial capacity and long-term support into a single model that could influence future defence programmes both domestically and abroad.
IWI is the main supplier to the IDF and Israeli Police, with combat-proven products used by military, law enforcement and special forces in over 60 countries across diverse operational environments. Renowned for developing the iconic Uzi sub-machine gun, IWI “continues to set benchmarks in firearm innovation and reliability”, the company asserts, including weapons such as the Arad, the Negev light machine gun and the Tavor assault rifle.
