Kiryat Gat – Israel Weapon Industries (IWI), an SK Group company and global leader in small arms manufacturing, announced that Argentina’s Armed Forces have selected the company’s ARAD 5 and ARAD 7 rifles, in a government-to-government (G2G) agreement led by the Israel Ministry of Defence’s International Defence Cooperation Directorate (SIBAT). The selection marks an important milestone in the platform’s established presence among military and law enforcement customers worldwide.
Argentina’s Ministry of Defence formally presented the ARAD 5 and ARAD 7 earlier this week, underscoring the rifles’ role in modernising the country’s individual weapons capabilities. The selection reflects the ARAD’s ability to deliver the reliability, precision and modularity required by today’s military and law enforcement users.
Developed for professionals who operate in the most unforgiving conditions, the combat-proven ARAD weapon system redefines what a 5.56mm rifle can do. Its advanced AR platform foundation is enhanced with short-stroke gas-piston operation, full ambidextrous controls, and a free-floating hammer-forged barrel that delivers pinpoint precision under pressure. An integrated Picatinny rail and M-LOK handguard provide extensive flexibility for optics, accessories and mission-specific configurations.
The rifles supplied to Argentina are equipped with Meprolight M5 red-dot sights, complementing the ARAD’s design with an integrated aiming solution. The M5 product family features combat-proven LED technology combined with rugged MIL-STD design and provides thousands of operating hours in day mode using a single “AA” battery. The wide dynamic range of brightness levels supports effective use in sunny desert environments, partially illuminated jungle conditions, Close-Quarters Battle (CQB) and covert operations with NV devices.
The ARAD weapon system is engineered to maintain its performance over an extended service life, with major components designed for a minimum of 20,000 rounds. Its combination of durability, accuracy and modularity gives users a platform built to deliver consistent performance over the course of its service life.
“We are proud that the government of Argentina has chosen the ARAD 5 and ARAD 7 rifles. We designed it around a simple principle: performance is not negotiable,” said SK Group’s Vice Chairman Ronen Hamudot. “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. 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 selection by Argentina adds to the ARAD’s established presence among military, special operations and law enforcement customers globally. Designed for broad applicability across missions and operating environments, the platform combines a proven AR architecture with modern ergonomics, fully ambidextrous controls and extensive modularity, giving customers the flexibility to configure the rifle for their specific operational requirements.
IWI (Israel Weapon Industries), part of the SK Group, is the main supplier to the Israeli Army 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, IWI continues to set benchmarks in firearm innovation and reliability, developing advanced systems like the ARAD, the NEGEV light machine gun, and the TAVOR.
SK Group, founded by noted Israeli industrialist Samy Katsav, is a leading holding company known for driving innovation across multiple strategic industries. Its portfolio comprises globally recognised companies, such as IWI (Israel Weapon Industries), Meprolight, Camero-Tech, ELVO, Israel Shipyards, Israel Shipyards Port, Uni-Scope Optical Solutions and Oshira.
