Infantry Weapons

IWI Arad assault rifle

Also known as
  • ARAD
  • IWI ARAD
  • ARAD 5
  • ARAD 5.56
  • ARAD 300 BLK
  • ARAD-7
  • ARAD 7
  • ARAD 7 DMR

The IWI Arad assault rifle is Israel Weapon Industries' modular AR-pattern rifle family, spanning the 5.56x45mm/.300 BLK ARAD and the 7.62x51mm/6.5 Creedmoor ARAD 7 line. Official IWI material describes short-stroke gas-piston operation, ambidextrous controls, quick-change barrels, and accessory rails, while government and defense-industry sources document Israeli procurement, Peruvian assembly, and reported ARAD-7 use by Israeli police and special-forces units during the 2023 Israel-Hamas War.

IWI Arad assault rifle, Modular assault and battle rifle family, Infantry Weapons
Image source: IWI Arad.jpg

Role in Conflicts

2023 Israel-Hamas War
Frontline Assault
Side
Israel

Peru's state FAME page says ARAD-7 rifles were being used by YAMAM and Israeli special-forces units in Operation Swords of Iron against Hamas; the source does not identify quantities or specific engagements.

Profile / Specs

Profile

Origin
Israel
Built in
IsraelPeru
Type
Modular assault and battle rifle family
Service note
Introduced in 2019
Designed
2019
Unit cost
Roughly NIS 5,500 per rifle, implied by the Israeli Ministry of Defense's reported NIS 50 million procurement for over 9,000 Arad rifles in 2024.
Produced
2019-present

Specifications

Caliber
ARAD: 5.56x45mm NATO / .300 BLK; ARAD 7: 7.62x51mm NATO / 6.5 Creedmoor
Action
Short-stroke gas piston; two-position gas regulator on ARAD and three-position gas regulator on ARAD 7
Barrel lengths
ARAD product data lists a 292 mm (11.5 in) barrel; ARAD 7 assault-rifle data lists 368/406 mm barrels.
Weight
About 2.85 kg unloaded for the 11.5 in ARAD configuration; about 4.15-4.55 kg for ARAD 7 assault-rifle configurations.
Controls
Fully ambidextrous controls, monolithic upper rail, Picatinny accessory rail, and M-LOK mounting positions
Peru assembly
FAME says ARAD-7 is assembled in Peru under an agreement with IWI; 2025 reporting says the plant was already supplying ARAD rifles to Peru's Armed Forces and National Police.
Design Notes

The ARAD line is best read as a modular rifle family: IWI's baseline ARAD page covers 5.56x45mm and .300 BLK configurations, while the separate ARAD 7 page extends the family into heavier 7.62x51mm and 6.5 Creedmoor roles.

Operating system

Official IWI material describes short-stroke gas-piston operation, quick barrel replacement, and regulator settings for normal and suppressed or environmental use.

Sources: IWI ARAD product page; IWI ARAD 7 product page.

Handling

The family uses ambidextrous controls, upper Picatinny rails, M-LOK mounting positions, and adjustable stocks to support infantry, police, and special-unit configurations.

Sources: IWI ARAD product page; IWI ARAD launch report.

Fire-control compatibility

Israeli defense reporting says IWI's Arbel computerized fire-control system can integrate directly with ARAD rifles.

Source: Jerusalem Post Arbel smart rifle system.

Peru production path

IWI and FAME established a Peru assembly pathway for ARAD rifles, with later reporting tying the plant to Peruvian Armed Forces and National Police supply.

Sources: Joint Forces IWI-FAME ARAD agreement; EDR IWI-FAME Peru assembly plant.

Variants

IWI markets ARAD as a family rather than a single fixed model: the baseline ARAD covers 5.56x45mm NATO and .300 BLK configurations, while ARAD 7 expands the line into 7.62x51mm and 6.5 Creedmoor battle-rifle and designated-marksman roles.

VariantConfigurationDesignation notes
ARAD5.56x45mm / .300 BLK assault-rifle configuration

IWI's ARAD product page lists 5.56x45mm and .300 BLK chamberings, an 11.5 in barrel data line, short-stroke piston operation, and quick barrel replacement.

Sources: IWI ARAD product page

ARAD 77.62x51mm / 6.5 Creedmoor battle-rifle configuration

IWI's ARAD 7 product page describes a larger multi-caliber rifle with 7.62x51mm and 6.5 Creedmoor barrel-change capability, a three-position gas regulator, and 368/406 mm assault-rifle barrel options.

Sources: IWI ARAD 7 product page

ARAD 7 DMRDesignated-marksman configuration

IWI lists ARAD 7 DMR as a separate small-arms family page; this entry treats it as part of the broader ARAD 7 designation family unless a separate catalog page is later warranted.

Sources: IWI ARAD 7 product page

Compatible Fire-Control System

Defense reporting links the Arad rifle to IWI's Arbel computerized fire-control system.

Compatible itemItem typeCompatibility evidence
Arbel computerized fire-control weapon system, Computerized small-arms fire-control system, Infantry WeaponsArbel computerized fire-control weapon systemComputerized fire-control system

The Jerusalem Post reports that Arbel integrates directly into IWI's own ARAD assault rifles.

Sources: Jerusalem Post Arbel smart rifle system

Timeline

IWI Arad assault rifle Key Events

  1. ARAD launch

    IWI publicly introduced the ARAD as a modular AR-15-platform rifle family in 5.56x45mm NATO and .300 Blackout, aimed at infantry and special units.

    Sources: IWI ARAD launch report, IWI ARAD product page

  2. IWI and FAME sign Peru assembly agreement

    IWI and FAME announced a transfer-of-technology agreement to establish a Peruvian assembly and production line for the ARAD family of assault rifles.

    Sources: Joint Forces IWI-FAME ARAD agreement

  3. FAME describes ARAD-7 operational and assembly context

    FAME said ARAD-7 rifles were being assembled in Peru and described ARAD-7 use by YAMAM and Israeli special-forces units in Operation Swords of Iron.

    Sources: FAME ARAD-7 combat and Peru assembly

  4. Israeli Ministry of Defense orders over 9,000 rifles

    The Israeli Ministry of Defense said it procured more than 9,000 Arad rifles, reported the value at about NIS 50 million, and linked the order to rapid-response units.

    Sources: IMOD Arad rifles procurement 2024

  5. FAME delivers ARAD-7 number 10,000

    FAME said it delivered ARAD-7 rifle number 10,000 to the Peruvian Army, completing the production goal under the year-old contract.

    Sources: FAME ARAD-7 number 10000

  6. Peru delivery reported complete

    Zona Militar reported completion of the reception process for 10,000 IWI ARAD 7 rifles acquired for the Peruvian Army's III Division.

    Sources: Zona Militar Peru ARAD 7 delivery

  7. Peru assembly plant supplying ARAD rifles

    EDR Magazine reported that IWI and FAME's Peruvian plant was already supplying ARAD rifles to the Peruvian Armed Forces and National Police, beginning with an initial 10,000-rifle order.

    Sources: EDR IWI-FAME Peru assembly plant

  8. Peruvian Third Cavalry Brigade begins ARAD-7 operational use

    FAME said the Peruvian Army's Third Cavalry Brigade in Tacna had begun deployment and operational use of its ARAD-7 rifle allocation.

    Sources: FAME Third Cavalry Brigade ARAD-7 use

  9. Rapid-response distribution completed

    The Ministry of Defense and IDF said thousands of Arad rifles had been distributed to rapid-response teams across Israel, completing the rollout.

    Sources: IMOD Arad rifles rapid response teams 2026

Media

IWI Arad assault rifle Videos

IWI Arad assault rifle Images

IWI Arad assault rifle, Modular assault and battle rifle family, Infantry Weapons - view 1
Source: IWI Arad.jpg
IWI Arad assault rifle, Modular assault and battle rifle family, Infantry Weapons - view 2
Source: IWI Arad.jpg
IWI Arad assault rifle, Modular assault and battle rifle family, Infantry Weapons - view 3
Source: IWI Arad.jpg
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Sources

IWI ARAD product pagePublisher: Israel Weapon Industries | Note: Supports manufacturer background, the ARAD's 5.56x45mm and .300 BLK chamberings, short-stroke gas-piston operation, ambidextrous controls, rail layout, and listed technical data. | Accessed: 2026-07-13IWI ARAD 7 product pagePublisher: Israel Weapon Industries | Note: Official product page supporting ARAD 7 chamberings, battle-rifle configuration, barrel-change system, three-position gas regulator, weight range, and technical data. | Accessed: 2026-07-13IWI ARAD launch reportPublisher: Joint Forces News | Note: Supports the 2019 launch, AR-15-platform background, special-forces and infantry design intent, and the original ARAD barrel-length figures. | Accessed: 2026-07-13Jerusalem Post Arbel smart rifle systemPublisher: The Jerusalem Post | Note: Supports the Arbel compatibility context by reporting that the system integrates directly into IWI's ARAD assault rifles. | Accessed: 2026-07-13IWI Arad.jpgPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Image provenance for the primary Arad product photograph and its CC BY-SA 4.0 licensing context. | Accessed: 2026-07-13IWI Arad.pngPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Image provenance for an alternate Arad product photograph and its CC BY-SA 4.0 licensing context. | Accessed: 2026-07-13IWI ARAD Peru 2024.jpgPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Image provenance for a public Arad image from Peru's 2024 military parade and its CC BY 2.0 licensing context. | Accessed: 2026-07-13IWI-Arad.jpgPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Image provenance for the YAMAM-coloring derivative of the Arad product image and its CC BY-SA 4.0 licensing context. | Accessed: 2026-07-13FAME ARAD-7 combat and Peru assemblyPublisher: Fábrica de Armas y Municiones del Ejército S.A.C. | Note: Peruvian state FAME page supporting ARAD-7 assembly in Peru and directly stating ARAD-7 use by YAMAM and Israeli special-forces units in Operation Swords of Iron against Hamas. | Accessed: 2026-07-13FAME first ARAD-7 lotPublisher: Fábrica de Armas y Municiones del Ejército S.A.C. | Note: Supports the first 500 ARAD-7 rifles delivered to the Peruvian Army, FAME assembly under an IWI cofabrication agreement, and the planned 10,000-rifle delivery schedule. | Accessed: 2026-07-13FAME ARAD-7 number 10000Publisher: Fábrica de Armas y Municiones del Ejército S.A.C. | Note: Supports FAME's statement that it delivered ARAD-7 rifle number 10,000 to the Peruvian Army on November 21, 2024, under the co-production agreement. | Accessed: 2026-07-13FAME Third Cavalry Brigade ARAD-7 usePublisher: Fábrica de Armas y Municiones del Ejército S.A.C. | Note: Supports Peruvian Army Third Cavalry Brigade deployment and operational use of ARAD-7 rifles in Tacna, tied to the 10,000-rifle contract and FAME assembly. | Accessed: 2026-07-13Joint Forces IWI-FAME ARAD agreementPublisher: Joint Forces News | Note: Supports the May 2023 IWI-FAME transfer-of-technology agreement for ARAD assembly and production in Peru. | Accessed: 2026-07-13Zona Militar Peru ARAD 7 presentationPublisher: Zona Militar | Note: Supports Peruvian Army public presentation of ARAD 7 rifles, FAME assembly with IWI technical assistance, and the 10,000-rifle acquisition context. | Accessed: 2026-07-13Zona Militar Peru ARAD 7 deliveryPublisher: Zona Militar | Note: Supports reporting that reception of 10,000 ARAD 7 rifles for the Peruvian Army's III Division was completed in December 2024. | Accessed: 2026-07-13EDR IWI-FAME Peru assembly plantPublisher: EDR Magazine | Note: Supports the 2025 Peru assembly-plant context, including supply of ARAD rifles to the Peruvian Armed Forces and National Police and the initial 10,000-rifle order. | Accessed: 2026-07-13IMOD Arad rifles procurement 2024Publisher: Israel Ministry of Defense | Note: Supports procurement context and unit-cost enrichment: the Ministry reported procurement of over 9,000 Arad rifles valued at around NIS 50 million for rapid-response units. | Accessed: 2026-07-13IMOD Arad rifles rapid response teams 2026Publisher: Israel Ministry of Defense | Note: Supports operator and background context: the Ministry and IDF said they completed distribution of thousands of Arad rifles to rapid-response teams across Israel. | Accessed: 2026-07-13