Israel Weapon Industries (IWI), part of the SK Group, has delivered its Arbel assault rifle-based anti-drone system (ADS) to Thailand’s Ministry of Defence (MoD), the company announced on 22 October 2026.
Following integration into its existing rifles and on-site training by IWI, the Arbel ADS has been deployed and is now operational with the Thai armed forces.
IWI did not state which weapons the Arbel system was integrated onto, but the Royal Thai Army uses weapons that include US-supplied M16-type assault rifles as well as IWI-supplied weapons such as the Tavor TAR-21, X95, Galil and ACE assault rifles.
IWI offers two procurement options for the Arbel ADS: either as part of a complete IWI-manufactured rifle or installed in a customer’s existing weapon. Thailand’s MoD selected the latter, with IWI completing the integration in Thailand by replacing the rifle’s lower receiver with the Arbel ADS.
Arbel ADS characteristics
The Arbel ADS is a computerised fire control system designed to dramatically improve hit probability and lethality. When the shooter pulls the trigger, the first round is discharged mechanically, as in any standard rifle. While the trigger remains pulled, the system controls the fire cadence at an optimal rate. This eliminates the need for complex trigger work – one of the most challenging aspects of marksmanship in dynamic scenarios – allowing the shooter to focus on target tracking and aiming. In drone interception scenarios, where targets are small, fast moving and manoeuvre unpredictably at a distance, the Arbel ADS automates follow-up shots to enable accurate, repeatable engagements, even in high-pressure environments. The system gives soldiers effective stand-off capabilities across a wide range of operational settings, IWI noted.
The Arbel ADS is capable of engaging drone threats up to 350 m in daylight and 250 m at night.
Unlike other counter-drone solutions that require specialised platforms or sensors, the Arbel ADS integrates directly into the soldier’s existing weapon, its plug-and-play design allowing soldiers to use familiar weapons with standard 5.56 ammunition without having to learn how to use a new platform. Optics-agnostic and compatible with a wide range of sighting systems, from red dots and low-power variable optics to thermal and night vision devices, the Arbel ADS can be adapted to the shooter’s preferred setup.
“Small tactical drones have become a direct and growing threat to soldiers on the battlefield,” SK Group Vice Chairman Ronen Hamudot was quoted as saying in a company press release. “We developed the Arbel ADS to give soldiers an effective means of defending themselves against this evolving threat, while providing armed forces with a critical tactical advantage in an increasingly complex battlespace.”
Thai military officials are in discussions with IWI about an additional Arbel order, IWI stated.
