IWI US launches ARAD 5 rifle for American civilian market

IWI US has officially launched the ARAD 5 in the American civilian market, bringing a rifle originally developed for elite Israeli military and law enforcement units to U.S. commercial buyers.

The weapon is being manufactured at the company’s new facility in Tennessee, a move IWI US says reflects its broader investment in domestic production capacity and workforce growth.

Developed from operational requirements

According to the company, the ARAD 5 was designed in response to operational requirements from Israeli security forces and has already seen extensive field use. The U.S. launch now opens that platform to the civilian market.

IWI US describes the ARAD 5 as a hybrid rifle platform that combines features from established weapon systems into a modern configuration.

Key platform details

The ARAD 5 is chambered in 5.56×45mm NATO and comes with a 16-inch barrel and a 30-round magazine. It is built on a semi-monolithic upper receiver and incorporates the company’s patented CamLok barrel lock-up mechanism.

The rifle also features a free-floating barrel assembly and a two-position short-stroke piston gas system, with the platform designed to function in both suppressed and unsuppressed configurations.

Its upper receiver is paired with a standard lower, while the fire controls are positioned in line with those found on M4-style rifles.

Company positions launch as next growth phase

“The IWI US ARAD 5 isn’t just another M4-style rifle. It reflects our continued focus on users who expect more from their equipment,” said Jeremy Gresham, Vice President of Sales and Marketing at IWI US.

The company said the ARAD 5 rollout follows its relocation to Tennessee and forms part of a wider expansion strategy centered on new manufacturing infrastructure and personnel.

For IWI US, the launch represents the next stage of its development in the American market as it shifts more of its production footprint to the United States.