Argentina’s Ministry of Defence presented the rifles earlier this week. The agreement was led by Israel’s International Defense Cooperation Directorate, known as SIBAT.
“We are proud that the government of Argentina has chosen the ARAD 5 and ARAD 7 rifles,” said Ronen Hamudot, vice chairman of SK Group, IWI’s parent company. “We designed it around a simple principle: performance is not negotiable.”
“The ARAD family challenges the conventional definition of what an AR-platform rifle can deliver, combining exceptional durability, precision and adaptability in a platform engineered for the realities of modern operations,” Hamudot said. “For decades, IWI has developed small arms alongside the people who rely on them in the field, and the ARAD weapon system represents that experience distilled into a new generation of capability.”
The ARAD platform uses a short-stroke gas-piston operating system, fully ambidextrous controls and a free-floating, hammer-forged barrel. Its integrated Picatinny rail and M-LOK handguard accommodate optics and accessories, allowing users to configure the weapon for different missions.
IWI says major components are designed for a minimum service life of 20,000 rounds. The company attributes the platform’s suitability for military and law enforcement use to its durability, accuracy and modular construction.
The Meprolight M5 sight uses LED technology and, according to the company, provides thousands of operating hours in day mode on a single AA battery. Adjustable brightness settings support use in strong sunlight, partially illuminated environments, close-quarters combat and operations involving night-vision devices.
The Argentine selection adds to the ARAD family’s international customer base across military, special operations and law enforcement organisations. IWI, an SK Group company, is the main supplier to the Israeli Army and Israeli Police and says its products are used in more than 60 countries.
