Argentina Considers Israeli-Made Arad 7 Rifles to Replace Aging FALs

The Argentine Ministry of Defense is currently considering the purchase of Arad 7 assault rifles from the Israeli company IWI, as a replacement for the outdated FAL rifles. According to the Spanish-language military website Zona Militar, a delegation from Argentina's Ministry of Defense recently visited Israel to assess the rifle's performance and explore acquisition options.

The delegation, consisting of Argentine Air Force and Navy officers, received support from SIBAT, the International Defense Cooperation Directorate of Israel's Ministry of Defense. Following their visit, which included successful firing tests at IWI's ranges, discussions began about the possibility of producing these rifles in Argentina under a licensing agreement with the Israeli company.

Local production is a significant aspect of the negotiations, particularly concerning the number of rifles the Argentine army plans to acquire. If the goal is to replace all FAL rifles, Israel may consider a technology transfer to support the Argentine initiative. However, the website suggests this may not be feasible in the short term, given the budgetary constraints currently hindering such a large-scale project.

The Arad 7 rifles are not the only option under consideration by Argentina's Ministry of Defense. At least five other companies have expressed interest in supplying weapons for the army's modernization program. Some companies have also explored the potential for joint production with the Argentinian industry.

IWI has not yet responded to this report.