The Argentine Army has begun integrating the Arad 5 and Arad 7 assault rifles manufactured by Israeli company IWI, which are intended to replace the FAL and M16 rifles currently in service.
According to Argentine website Zona Militar, the first 250 rifles were delivered at a ceremony held in late September: 50 Arad 7 rifles in 7.62 mm caliber for the Army, 100 Arad 5 rifles for the Air Force, and another 100 Arad 5 rifles for the Argentine Marine Corps.
The total number of rifles purchased by the Argentine military has not been disclosed. However, local military website Pucará Defensa reports that the initial shipment is part of an order for 1,600 rifles. The second shipment is expected to arrive in the first quarter of 2027.
Statements by military leaders at the ceremony indicate that Argentina is considering establishing a local factory to manufacture the rifles. No timeline was provided, and the local company that would potentially build the facility has not been identified.
According to the commanders, the selection process for a new assault rifle began in 2024. In 2025, various alternatives were evaluated in the United States, Europe and Israel. The agreement between Israel and Argentina for the sale of the rifles was signed in June 2026.
IWI did not respond to a request for comment.