A number of upcoming Dutch small arms requirements have prompted Israel Weapon Industries (IWI) to announce that, in conjunction with Dutch company Artillerie Inrichtingen Armaments (AIA), it is planning to establish manufacturing and assembly of IWI weapons and systems in the Netherlands.

The IWI proposal

Under the planned co-operation, AIA would manufacture and assemble two IWI weapons in a factory to be established in the Netherlands: the Arad 5 5.56 mm assault rifle and the Negev UX light machine gun, which is available in both 5.56 mm and 7.62 mm calibres. IWI would provide the underlying technology, product expertise and manufacturing know-how, while AIA would establish a Dutch manufacturing operation and the infrastructure to deliver and support the products.

The requirement

The move is prompted by the fact that the Colt Canada 5.56 mm C7NLD assault rifle, C8NLD compact carbine and LOAWNLD (an upgraded Dutch military designation for the Diemaco/Colt Canada C7 Light Support Weapon) will be reaching the end of their planned service lives for the Dutch armed forces in the near future, meaning that a replacement programme is therefore on the cards.

Colt Canada in the fray

Meanwhile, Colt Canada officially announced the launch of its new 5.56 mm C25 carbine to customers in the UK and Europe on 2 October 2026 and will be hoping to provide the Dutch armed forces with successor weapons.

Colt Canada also now offers the 7.62 mm C20 Semi-Automatic Sniper Weapon in its portfolio.

Dutch defence initiatives

In April 2025 the Netherlands Ministry of Defence (MoD) announced that it was accelerating a number of defence equipment acquisitions, encompassing 17 new projects valued at over EUR1 billion in total. As well as new small arms, this initiative includes new armoured vehicles, maritime uncrewed aerial vehicles and surface vessels, a new tactical weapon for Dutch F-35 Joint Strike Fighters, an air warning radar, an anti-torpedo system and a replacement for the Royal Netherlands Navy’s MK48 heavyweight torpedo. The Netherlands MoD also stated that it planned to modernise its Apache AH-64E attack helicopters and Chinook heavylift helicopters with new self-protection systems and armaments.