Israeli weapons manufacturer expands production to the Netherlands despite ongoing anti-Israel protests

Israeli firearms manufacturer Israel Weapon Industries (IWI) has announced a partnership with Dutch defense company Artillerie Inrichtingen Armaments (AIA) to manufacture two of its weapons platforms in the Netherlands, marking an expansion of Israel’s defense industry into a European market.

Under the agreement, AIA will manufacture IWI’s ARAD 5 rifle and NEGEV UX machine gun at a new Dutch facility, with IWI providing the technology, product expertise and manufacturing support.

The announcement also comes amid diplomatic tensions between Jerusalem and Amsterdam, following Israel’s decision to revoke the accreditation of a Dutch diplomat after a Dutch airport enforced a ban on goods from Israeli settlements.

“A strong Dutch industrial base is fundamental to national security,” said AIA CEO Gerard Zondervan. “The Netherlands needs the ability to manufacture, develop expertise and support the defense systems on which its security depends. This cooperation is a step toward a future in which Dutch industry plays a greater role in delivering the defense capabilities our country needs.”

The Netherlands has not had a domestic manufacturer producing small arms for military or law enforcement use for decades. However, the deterioration of European security has prompted renewed attention to domestic weapons production and defense manufacturing capabilities.

“The future of defense manufacturing will be shaped by the ability to turn proven technology into operational capability where it is needed,” said Ronen Hamudot, vice chairman of SK Group, IWI’s parent company.

“We see this cooperation as an opportunity to bring our decades of experience developing and manufacturing weapon platforms for demanding operational environments into a new industrial setting,” Hamudot continued.

Under the announced plan, IWI will provide AIA with the technology, product know-how and manufacturing expertise needed to establish a factory capable of producing several thousand ARAD 5 rifles and NEGEV UX machine guns annually. IWI will also continue to provide technical advice and support.

According to its website, IWI develops its firearms “in close collaboration with Israel Defense Forces (IDF)” through joint “Research & Development teams” and ongoing “interaction, field tests, and modifications resulting from combat requirements and experience.”

The ARAD 5 is IWI’s modular 5.56 mm rifle, chambered for the NATO-standard rifle cartridge. It uses standard AR-pattern magazines compatible with many rifles used by NATO militaries. Several non-NATO countries have also adopted the ARAD, including Argentina.

The NEGEV UX is a lighter version of IWI’s NEGEV machine gun. It is chambered for 7.62 mm ammunition and weighs approximately 6.8 kilograms (15 pounds).

Both weapons have seen extensive use during the Swords of Iron War, which began following the Hamas massacre of Oct. 7, 2023.