Argentina begins replacing military rifles with IWI ARAD models

The Argentine Armed Forces have begun a progressive replacement of their individual armament with the first batch of IWI ARAD-5 and ARAD-7 rifles. This modernization effort aims to replace aging FAL and M-16 models currently in service to standardize equipment across the Army, Navy, and Air Force, thereby improving interoperability and simplifying logistics.

The acquisition was conducted through a government-to-government agreement led by the Israeli Ministry of Defense. The ARAD rifle family utilizes an AR-style architecture but features a short-stroke gas piston system, ambidextrous controls, and a hammer-forged floating barrel. The rifles are designed for modularity, featuring Picatinny rails and M-LOK interfaces to accommodate various optics and accessories. The units will be equipped with Meprolight M5 red dot sights.

During an official presentation at the 1st Patricios Infantry Regiment in Buenos Aires, Minister of Defense Lieutenant General Carlos Alberto Presti described the transition as a “qualitative leap” for the military. He noted that the selection was tailored to Argentina’s specific operational diversity and intended to serve the forces for many years.