Israeli defence firm Israel Weapon Industries (IWI) is exploring the integration of its advanced ARBEL system into weapons manufactured in India. The development comes as India and Israel continue to expand their defence partnership, with increasing focus on local manufacturing under India’s defence production push.
Speaking about the plan, IWI CEO Shuki Schwartz said the company is already in talks with Indian stakeholders. “We are currently engaging with our customers in India who have expressed interest in the ARBEL weapon system, which significantly improves the firing accuracy of handheld weapons,” he said.
“We see strong potential for future integration of ARBEL into Israeli guns that are made in India. ARBEL can be produced in India as part of our broader strategy,” he added.
What is the ARBEL system?
ARBEL is a computerized fire-control system designed to improve shooting precision in combat situations. According to the company, it uses a complex algorithm that detects when a shooter is accurately aligned with the target and optimises firing accordingly.
The system is designed to reduce common combat errors caused by stress, fatigue, or unstable conditions. “ARBEL compensates for shooting errors typical of combative scenarios like heavy breathing, stress, and flinching,” the company said, claiming it can increase weapon effectiveness by up to two to three times.
Integration with NEGEV machine guns already underway
The company is also working on integrating ARBEL with the NEGEV Light Machine Gun, which is already being supplied to the Indian Army.
IWI is currently delivering 41,000 NEGEV Light Machine Guns, with a growing portion being manufactured locally. Recently, around 2,000 units produced at a joint venture facility in Madhya Pradesh were handed over to the Army.
Schwartz said that more than half of the NEGEV’s components are now made in India, including critical parts like barrels.
Enhanced combat performance and flexibility
The ARBEL-integrated NEGEV system is designed to improve accuracy while maintaining high firepower. By controlling the rate of fire in real time, it narrows the spread of bullets and increases the chances of hitting targets, including moving ones.
The system offers a combination of machine gun-level suppressive fire and rifle-like precision, making it effective in both close-quarter battles and mid-range engagements.
Weighing about 7.95 kg, the NEGEV can fire 650–700 rounds per minute and supports both semi-automatic and automatic modes. It is also equipped with night sights and can be mounted on vehicles, helicopters, and naval platforms.
Push for local production and future collaboration
IWI said upgrading existing NEGEV guns to ARBEL-enabled versions is relatively simple, requiring only a replacement of the weapon’s grip with a lightweight ARBEL component.
The company emphasised that local production of ARBEL in India is part of its long-term strategy, aligning with India’s push for indigenous defence manufacturing.
With the Indian Army already using NEGEV guns for over five years, the integration of ARBEL could mark the next phase in Indo-Israeli defence cooperation, combining advanced technology with local production capabilities.
