Tel Aviv: The ongoing war in Ukraine has led to the inclusion of one Israeli designed advanced assault rifle in the potential shopping list of some European countries.
The ARAD manufactured by Israel Weapon Industries (IWI) has attracted a lot of attention. The IWI ARAD assault rifle designed for infantry use, special units and law enforcement units complies with the most stringent NATO standards for small arms, including environmental standards.
According to the Israeli company IWI, ARAD is specially intended for all kinds of combat scenarios with its ability to change calibers from 5.56X45mm to 300BLK. The assault rifle is equipped with a picatinny rail to enable the use of a variety of optics and other attachments. The picatinny rail is an integral part of the upper receiver of the rifle.
In addition, there are M-LOK rails at the 3, 6 and 9 o’clock positions along the handguard. It includes a telescopic buttstock which allows the users to adjust the length individually for their particular needs. According to IWI, the modular structure of the rifle enables the user to easily dismantle and replace the barrel. The weapon is fully ambidextrous with controls on both sides of the rifle. IWI ARAD assault rifle has a short stroke gas piston operated with a regulator which allows constant operation in all environmental conditions.
The company says that the rifle is designed for minimum operator and armourer level maintenance, thus reducing maintenance and life cycle costs. The Quick detachable barrel can be easily replaced by the user without dismantling the assault grip.
IWI was reluctant to identify the potential customers in Europe.
-The writer is an Israel-based freelance journalist. The views expressed are of the writer and do not necessarily reflect the views of Raksha Anirveda
